ocreedings  of  ^National 
Conference  on  Concrete 
House    Construction 

Held  at 

Auditorium  Hotel,  Chicago 

February  17,  18,  19,  1920 


!f 


I 


• 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/concretehouseOOnatirich 


PROCEEDINGS 

of 


(  National    Conference  on 

A-    n 

Concrete  House  Construction 


Held  at 


Auditorium  Hotel,  Chicago 
February  17,  18,  19,  1920 


Edited  by  the  Secretary 


Secretary's  Office 

111  West  Washington  Street 

Chicago 


GIFT 


m  /^ 


INDEX. 

Page 

Foreword    10 

Call  to  the  Conference 19 

Eesolutions^  Report  of  Committee 11 

Organization — 

Officers 5 

Advisory  Committee 5 

Committee  on  Resolutions 18 

Standing  Committees — 

Committee  on  Architecture  and  Design 48 

Committee  on  Concrete  Block  Houses 183 

Sub-Committee  A — Recommended  Practices  for  Con- 
crete Block  and  Tile  Construction 192 

Sub-Committee  B — Standard  Concrete  Block  and  Tile 

Sizes 195 

Sub- Committee  C — Block  Surface  Finish  and  Stucco 

on  Block  and  Tile 202 

Sub-Committee    D — Trimstone    and    Building    Orna- 
ments      210 

Sub- Committee  E — Concrete  Block  Plants  and  Equip- 
ment   214 

Committee  on  Concrete  and  Cement  Roofings 221 

Committee  on  Farm   Housing 65 

Committee  on  Financing  Permanent  Homes 93 

Committee  on  Fire   Prevention 107 

Committee  on  Monolithic  Concrete  Houses 120 

Committee  on  Plastered  and  Gunite  Houses 170 

Committee  on  Unit  Constructed  Houses 153 

Organizations  cooperating  with  the  Conference 20 

Organizations  which  held  joint  Sessions  with  the  National  Con- 
ference on  Concrete  House  Construction 222 

Addresses — 

Address  of  the  Chairman 22 

The  Moral  Value  of  the  Individually  Owned  Home,  by  Br. 

Jolin  M.  Vander  Muelen,  D.  D 29 

Housing  Needs  from  the   Viewpoint   of   Industiy,   By   John 

Glass   '. 49 

Papers — 

Concrete  Housing,  By  Irving  K.  Pond 37 

Relation  of  Design  and  Public  Taste  to  the  Housing  Problem, 

By  Henry  K.  Holsman 44 

4^2260 


11 

Page 

Cooperation  with  Building  &  Loan  Associations  in  Financing 

Individual  Homes,  By  Mark  D.  Rider 67 

The  Government's  Housing  Experiment,  By  LeRoy  K.  Slier- 
man  , 96 

The  Concrete  House  and  Its  Status  as  Regards  Building  Codes, 

By  Fred  W.  Lumis 108 

Insulation  of  Concrete  Walls,  By  Nolan  D.  Mitchell 154 

New  Developments  in  Surface-Treated    Concrete  and  Stucco, 

By  J.  C.  Pearson  and  J.  J.  Earley 159 

Heports — 

Report  of  Committee  on  Architecture  and  Design 48 

Report  of  Committee  on  Concrete  Block  Houses 181 

Report  of  Sub-Committee  A — Recommended  Practices  for 

Concrete  Block  and  Tile  Construction 184 

Report   of   Sub-Committee  B — Standard    Concrete   Block 

and   Tile   Sizes 193 

Report  of  Sub-Committee  C — Block  Surface  Finish  and 

Stucco  on  Block  and  Tile 199 

Report   of    Sub- Committee   D — Trimstone    and   Building 

Ornaments    203 

Report  of  Sub-Committee  E — Concrete  Block  Plants  and 

Equipment    212 

Report  of  Committee  on  Concrete  and  Cement  Roofings 215 

Report  of  Committee  on  Farm  Housing 55 

Report  of  Committee  on  Financing  Permanent  Homes 81 

Report  of  Committee  on  Fire   Prevention 99 

Report  of  Committee  on  Monolithic  Concrete  Houses 113 

Report  of  Committee  on  Plastered  and  Gunite  Houses 167 

Report  of  Committee  on  Resolutions 11 

Report  of  Committee  on  Unit  Constructed  Houses 139 

Miscellaneous — ■ 

Proceedings,  Opening  Session,  Tuesday  Afternoon,  Februarv 

17th 19 

Various  Plans  for  Financing  Permanent  Homes 74 

Description  of  Various  Methods  of  Monolithic  Concrete  House 

Construction   127 

Concrete  Stud  and  Cement  Stucco  Construction 171 

Ballinger  &  Perrot  System 171 

Donaldson  System  173 

Traylor-Dewey  System 176 

Cellular  Gun-Crete  System  178 

American   Concrete  Institute  Standard  No.   10  for   Concrete 

Architectural  Stone,  Building  Block  and  Brick 184 

Registration   List 223 


OFFICERS  OF^ 
NATIONAL  CONFERENCE  ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE 

CONSTRUCTION 

Ernest  T.  Trigg,  Philadelphia Chairman 

President,  National  Federation  of  Construction  Industries 

Franklin  T.  Miller,  New  York Vice  Chairman 

President,  F.  W.  Dodge  Co. 

Dr.  W.  K.  Hatt,  LaFayette,  Ind. Vice  Chairman 

President,  American  Concrete  Institute 

Professor  of  Civil  Engineering,  Purdue  University 

A.  J.  R.  Curtis,  Chicago Secretarij 

Manager,  Farm  &  Cement  Products  Bureau,  Portland  Cement  Association 


ADVISORY  COMMITTEE 


Thomas  Adams,  Ottawa 

Town  Planning  Adviser,  Dominion 
of  Canada 
B.  F.  Affleck,  Chicago. 

President,  Portland  Cement  Asso- 
ciation 
President,  Universal  Portland  Ce- 
ment Co. 
Cecil    B^anklin    Baker,    Manhattan, 
Kans. 
Professor  of  Architecture,  Kansas 
State  Agricultural  College 
George  Barriball,  Cleveland 

Builder  and  Building  Block  Manu- 
facturer 
Harland  Bartholomew,  St.  Liouis 

City  Plan  Engineer. 
Albert  Farwell  Bemis,  Boston 
President,  The  Housing  Co. 
Albert     Burnley     Bibb,     Washington, 
D.   C. 

Professor  of  Architecture,  George 
Washington  University 
Frederic  Child  Biggin,  Auburn,  Ala. 
Professor     of     Architecture,     Ala- 
bama Polytechnic  Institute 
J.  W.  Boardman,  Jr.,  Detroit 

Vice  President,  Huron  Portland  Ce- 
ment Co. 

A.  E.  Bradshaw,  Indianapolis 

President,  Practical  Concrete  Stone 

Company 
President,  National  Builders  Sup- 
ply Association 
Louis  Brandt,  Pittsburgh 

Industrial  Housing  Engineer 


Ralph  E.  Bristol,  Ogden,  Utah 
President,  Utah  Sales  Co. 

G.  W.  BucHHOLZ,  Chicago. 

Secretary,  Associated  General  Con- 
tractors of  America 

Edmond  S.  Campbell,  Chicago. 

Acting  Head,   School  of  Architec- 
ture, Armour  Institute 

Wm.  J.  J.  Chase,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

President,  Georgia  Chapter,  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Architects 

C.  St.  J.  Chubb,  Columbus,  Ohio 

Professor    of    Architecture,    Ohio 
State  University 

F.  M.  CooGAN,  Easton,  Pa. 

President,     Phillip  sburg    Develop- 
ment Co. 

E.  W.  Cunningham,  Cleveland. 

Commissioner  of  Buildings 
George  Cuozzo,  Bangor.  Me. 

President,  Bangor  Cast  Stone  Co. 
H.  C.  Davidson,  Cleveland 

Vice    President,    Hydraulic    Steel- 
craft  Co. 
John  R.  Dunlap,  New  York 

Editor-in-Chief,     Industrial     Man- 
agement 

F.  E.  GiESECKE,  Austin,  Texas 

Professor    of    Architecture,     Uni- 
versity of  Texas 
John  Glass,  Baltimore 

Representative,    M  a  n  u  f  a  cturers 
Record 
John  M.  Glenn,  Chicago 

Publisher,   Manufacturers  News 


PROCFllUmQS    01'    ]:iA  T70NAL    CONFERENCE 


Charles  Herrick  Hamacoitd,  Chicago 
President,   lUii^ort;   SViGi^t:^    bf  Av- 
chitects  '       '       '     « ' 

Edward  S.  Hanson,  Chicago. 

Writer 
Richard  Hardy,  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 
Vice   President,    Portland    Cement 

Association 
President,  Dixie  Portland  Cement 
Co. 

William  D.  Harper,  Milwaukee 

Building  Commissioner 
J.  K.  Harridge,  Chicago 

President,   Concrete   Products   As- 
sociation 
President,  The  Hydro-Stone  Co. 
Dr.  W.  K.  Hatt,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Pres.  American  Concrete  Institute 
Professor     of    Civil     Engineering, 
Purdue  University 
Robert  P.  Havlik,  Mooseheart,  111, 
Chief  Engineer,  Loyal  Order  of  the 
Moose 
K.  V.  Haymaker,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Formerly  Financial  Adviser,  U.  S. 
Housing  Corporation 
D.  Helmuth,  Cleveland 

President,    Concrete    Roofing    Tile 

Association 
President,  Empire  Tile  Co. 

Charles    O'Connor    Hennessey,    New 
York 

President,  The  Franklin  Society 
President,  New  York  State  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association 
Horace  H.  Herr,  Chicago 

Editor,  American  Contractor 
Henry  C.  Hibbs,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

President,   Tennessee    Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 
R.  W.  Hilles,  Nazareth,  Pa. 

Manager  of  Sales,  Dexter  Portland 
Cement  Co. 
Henry  Holsman,  Chicago 

President,  Illinois  Chapter,  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Architects 
Geo.  a.  Hool,  Madison,  Wis. 

Extension  Professor  of  Structural 
Engineering,  University  of  Wis- 
consin 

Fred  Hubbard,  Youngstown,  O. 

Construction  Superintendent,  Car- 
negie Steel  Co. 
Hector  J.  Hughes,   Cambridge,  Mass. 
Professor    of    Civil    Engineering, 
Harvard  University 
Richard  L.  Humphrey,  Philadelphia 

Consulting  Engineer 
Charles  T.  Ingham,  Pittsburgh 
^      President,      Pittsburgh      Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 


Bernard  L.  Johnson,  Chicago 

Editor-in-Chief,      The      American 
'  Builder 

P.  P.  Jones,  Montreal 

Vice  President  and  General  Mana- 
ger, Canada  Cement  Co.,  Ltd. 
Henry  Olin  Jones,  Greenville,  S.  C. 
President,  South  Carolina  Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 
Francis  Wynne  Kervick,  Notre  Dame, 
Ind. 
Professor  of  Architecture,  Univer- 
sity of  Notre  Dame 
Allen   Holmes   Kimball,   Ames,   Iowa 
President,    Iowa.  Chapter,    Ameri- 
can Institute  of  Architects 
Wm.  M.  Kinney,  Chicago 

General  Manager,  Portland  Cement 
Association 
W.  L.  Kuegle,  Youngstown,  Ohio 
Manager,  Buckeye  Land  Co. 
Louis  La  Beaume,  St,  Louis 

President,      St.      Louis      Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 
Warren  P.  Laird,  Philadelphia 

Professor    of    Architecture,     Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania 
Ritchie  Lawrie,  Jr.,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
Director,    Housing   Bureau,    Penn- 
sylvania State  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce 
Albert  C.  Lehman,  Pittsburgh 

President,  Metal  Forms  Association 
President,  Blaw-Knox  Company 
H.  B.  LicHTY,  Waterloo,  Iowa 

President,    Concrete    Mixer    Asso- 
ciation 
President,    Waterloo    Construction 
Machinery  Co. 
John  A.  Lindros,  Rock  Island,  111. 

Building  Inspector 
Emil  Lorch,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

Professor     of    Architecture,     Uni- 
versity of  Michigan 
Frederick  M,  Mann,  Minneapolis 

Professor     of     Architecture,     Uni- 
versity of  Minnesota 
Anson  Marston,  Ames,  Iowa 

Dean  of  Engineering,  Iowa  State 
College 

Clarence  Martin,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

Professor  of  Architecture,  Cornell 
University 

John  C.  McCabe,  Detroit 

Commissioner    of    Buildings    and 
Safety  Engineering 
Alan  McDonald,  Omaha,  Nebr. 

President,       Nebraska       Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 
Franklin  T.  Miller,  New  York 
President,  F.  W.  Dodge  Co. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


Geo.  H.  Miller,  Boston 

Industrial  Town  Planner 
Geo.  p.  Millek,  Chicago 

National  Builder 
Rudolph  P.  Miller,  New  York 

Chairman,   Building  Officials  Con- 
ference 
Albert  Moyer,  New  York 

Manager  of  Sales,  Vulcanite  Port- 
land Cement  Company 
H.  M.  Patterson,  Los  Angeles 

President,      Southern      California 
Chapter,   American   Institute   of 
Architects 
John  J.  Porter,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

Hagerstown  Homes  Corporation 
L.  H.  Provine,  Champaign,  111. 

Professor     of     Architecture,     Uni- 
versity of  Illinois 
Wm.  a.  Radford,  Chicago 

President,  Radford  Publications 
H.  H.  Richards,  Chicago 

Architect 
Mark  D.  Rider,  Washington,  D.  C. 
President,  U.  S.  League  of  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Associations 
Wayland    T.    Robertson,    Providence, 
R.  I. 

Architect 
W.  C.  Robinson,  Chicago 

Vice  President  and  Chief  Engineer, 
Underwriters  Laboratories 
Alfred  Rogers,  Toronto 

President,     Alfred     Rogers,     Ltd., 
Building  Materials 
Geo.  A.  Ross,  Montreal 

Ross  &  McDonald,  Architects 
James  W.  Routh,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Director,  Bureau  of  Municipal  Re- 
search 
Robert  Scholl,  Cleveland 

Builder  and  Concrete  Block  Manu- 
facturer 
President,  Cleveland  Cement  Users 
Association 
Sylvain  Schnaittacheb,  San  Francisco 
President,  San  Francisco  Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 
L.  K.  Sherman,  Washington,  D.  C. 
President,  United  States  Housing 
Corporation 
CiiAs.  M.  Spofford,  Cambridge,  Mass. 
Professor    of    Civil     Engineering, 
Massachusetts  Institute  of  Tech- 
nology 
Director,  The  Housing  Company  of 
Boston 
Orion  L.  Stock,  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Assistant  Professor  of  Architectur- 
al Design,  Rose  Polytechnic  In- 
stitute 


Nat  Stone,  Milwaukee 

Chairman,  Milwaukee  Housing 
Commission 

E.  Guy  Sutton,  Indianapolis 

Secretary,  National  Sand  &  Gravel 
Producers  Association 
A.  N.  Talbot,  Champaign,  111. 

Professor  of  Civil  Engineering, 
University  of  Illinois 

K.  H.   Talbot,   Milwaukee 
Koehring  Machine  Co. 

Leon  I.  Thomas,  Chicago 
Managing  Editor,  Factory 

Ernest  T.  Trigg,  Philadelphia 

President,  National  Federation  of 
Construction  Industries 
C.  A.  TuppER,  Chicago 

President,  International  Trade 
Press 

H.  C.  Turner,  New  York 

President,  Turner  Construction  Co. 
Chas.  E.  Ulrickson,  Dallas 

Treasurer   and    General    Manager, 
Trinity  Portland  Cement  Co. 
Lawrence  Vehxer,  New  York 

Secretary  and  Director,  National 
Housing  Association 

H.  Vandervoort  Walsh,  New  York 
Professor  of  Architecture,  Colum- 
bia University 

Leonard  C.  Wason,  Boston 

President,  Aberthaw  Construction 
Co. 

Mentor  Wetstein,  Cincinnati 

President,  Concrete  Block  Machin- 
ery Association 
President,  Brandell  Company 
General  Manager,  Hodges  Electric 
Stucco  Machine  Works 
Harvey  Whipple,  Detroit 
Editor,  Concrete 

Chas.  O.  Whitmore,  Hartford,  Conn. 
President,     Connecticut     Chapter, 
American  Institute  of  Architects 
Sir  John  S.  Willison,  Toronto 

Chairman,  Canada  Reconstruction 
Association 
L.  P.  WiLLSEA,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

President,  Century  Cement  Ma- 
chinery Co. 

Herman  Wischmeyer,  Louisville,  Ky. 

Architect 
Ira  H.  Woolson,  New  York 

Consulting      Engineer,      National 
Board  of  Fire  Underwriters 
J.  E.  Zaun,  Denver 

Secretary  and  General  Manager, 
United  States  Portland  Cement 
Co. 


FOREWORD 

Because  of  the  almost  entire  cessation  of  home  building  during  the 
war  and  the  failure  to  resume  such  construction  in  a  comprehensive 
manner  since  its  conclusion,  the  actual  shortage  of  homes  has  reached 
an  alarming  stage,  and  is  still  increasing.  During  the  past  two  years 
transportation  and  labor  difficulties  among  other  causes,  have  prevented 
the  resumption  of  house  building  on  a  scale  comparable  to  normal  times. 

In  recognition  of  this  situation,  the  National  Conference  on  Con- 
crete House  Construction  assembled  during  February,  1920,  "to  con- 
sider the  dwelling  house  problem  and  to  present  and  make  available  the 
state  of  the  art  in  the  construction  of  concrete  houses." 

The  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction  enjoys 
the  distinction  of  having  been  the  first  gathering  called  by  those  inter- 
ested in  any  great  building  material  to  study  exclusively  the  housing 
shortage  and  to  devise  ways  and  means  of  standardizing  the  use  and 
increasing  the  efficiency  of  that  material  in  house  building.  The  wide- 
spread interest  which  this  Conference  attracted  is  evidenced  by  the  fact 
that  architects,  engineers,  realtors,  bankers,  building  material  manufac- 
turers and  dealers,  contractors,  community  planning  experts,  not  to  men- 
tion many  individuals  having  their  particular  personal  interests  at  heart, 
came  from  thirty-six  states  and  from  several  provinces  of  Canada  to 
meet  with  the  Conference  or  to  take  part  in  its  deliberations.  Even 
representatives  of  several  foreign  nations  were  in  attendance,  eager  for 
developments  which  might  immediately  be  applied  to  their  reconstruction 
or  expansion  problems. 

This  compilation  of  the  Conference  Proceedings  is  significant  be- 
cause of  the  comprehensiveness  of  the  material  presented  and  also 
because  most  of  this  material  has  never  before  been  published.  It  is  the 
last  word  on  the  ways  and  means  of  building  the  home  dwelling  of 
concrete  in  the  various  ways  in  which  concrete "  may  be  applied  to 
such  construction. 

It  is  hoped  that  these  Proceedings  of  the  National  Conference  on 
Concrete  House  Construction  may  rank  as  a  noteworthy  contribution 
to  the  cause  of  better  homes  and  will  prove  valuable  in  encouraging 
a  greater  number  of  comfortable,  artistic,  fire-safe  houses. 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  RESOLUTIONS 

NATIONAL  CONFERENCE  ON  CONCRETE 

HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION 

The  United  States  and  Canada  are  now  confronted  with  an  un- 
precedented housing  famine,  so  universally  recognized  as  to  need  no  em- 
phasis. This  originated  in  governmental  allocation  of  labor,  materials 
and  capital  to  war  needs,  and  has  been  continued  and  accentuated  by 
the  diversion  of  labor,  materials  and  capital  to  the  production  of  non- 
essentials. To  such  an  extent  is  this  true  that  the  public  demand  for 
these  non-essentials,  and  even  for  luxuries,  is  raising  the  cost  of  hous- 
ing, while  the  people  are  bidding  against  each  other  for  the  houses 
which  exist. 

The  effect  of  this  housing  shortage  is  not  merely  to  inflict  hard- 
ships on  the  people,  but  to  excite  to  higher  pitch  those  feelings  of  dis- 
content so  widespread  in  the  country  since  the  war. 

We  deem  it  our  plain  duty  as  citizens  to  offer  to  our  countrymen 
such  advice  as  our  professional  and  trade  experiences  qualify  us  to 
give,  as  to  the  best  methods  by  which  the  problems  may  be  solved  and 
normal  conditions  restored.  Only  by  an  analysis  of  the  factors  entering 
into  house  building  can  we  hope  to  arrive  at  an  understanding  of 
either  the  problem  or  its  remedy. 

Before  entering  on  this  analysis,  reference  must  be  made  to  the 
effect  of  the  depreciation  of  the  dollar  which  hangs  like  a  cloud  over  the 
while  business  horizon.  To  the  mass  of  people  this  is  still  a  mysterious 
phenomenon.  It  began  before  the  war,  due  to  great  increase  in  gold 
production  and  has,  of  course,  been  intensified  by  the  inflation  of  the 
currency.  While  the  people  at  large  are  thinking  in  terms  of  high 
prices  they  would  be  nearer  the  truth  if  they  were  thinking  of  lowered 
standards  of  value.  The  public  view  of  this  matter  cannot  soon  be 
altered  and  we  must,  therefore,  treat  it  for  the  present  as  an  estab- 
lished fact. 

The  main  factors  with  which  we  have  to  deal  are  more  numerous 
than  is  the  general  belief;  they  involve  among  others,  Land,  Materials, 
Labor,  Finance,  Transportation,  Design,  Legislation  and  Building  Ordi- 
nances. Clearly  relief  can  come  only  through  the  construction  of  more 
houses  of  the  right  type.  All  building  is  for  a  profit  in  some  form. 
Unless  profit  can  be  reasonably  assured  in  residence  constructiorf  the 
building  of  homes  will  be  limited  to  prospective  owners  who  are  but 
a  small  fraction  of  the  population  of  large  communities.  Houses  must 
be  provided  for  the  great  mass  who  can  only  afford  to  rent  or  buy  on 
long  term  installments. 

If,  as  will  be  generally  conceded,  after  food  supply,  houses  are 
the  most  fundamental  need  of  the  people,  housing  supply  should  take 
precedence  over  all  other  use  to  which  capital  can  be  put,  and  that 
we  are  justified  in  urging  that  all  possible  steps  be  taken  to  make  in- 
vestment of  private  capital  in  house  construction  more  attractive  than 


12  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

any  other  form  ol  ikfesimidiii.< ;  iitvestment  can  be  encouraged  but  can- 
not be  forced. 

Private  initiative  has  in  the  past  always  been  found  competent  to 
solve  the  problems  of  the  country,  and  with  proper  encouragement  and 
incentive  can  be  relied  upon  to  successfully  grapple  with  the  present 
emergency.  Federal  governmental  methods,  even  with  the  utmost  effi- 
ciency of  direction  and  handling,  are  slow,  cumbersome  and  costly. 
Experience  seems  to  show  that  every  dollar  which  government  puts 
into  a  competitive  business  drives  out  $10  of  private  capital. 

In  most  of  the  states  constitutional  obstacles  defer  the  possibility 
of  help  from  these  sources  for  at  least  two  years.  Prudence,  therefore, 
dictates  that  the  hope  of  such  aid  even  were  it  desirable  must  be  dis- 
carded from  our  calculations.  What  state  governments  can  do,  how- 
ever, is  to  remove  the  obstacles  which,  in  the  form  of  taxation,  they 
now  place  in  the  way  of  constructing  new  buildings. 

Since  the  housing  scarcity  is  the  result  of  governmental  restrictions 
and  taxation,  preferential  allocation  of  materials  and  cars  and  govern- 
mental exemptions  must  be  enlisted  to  restore  normal  conditions. 

Land 

Taking  up  the  related  factors,  we  may  say  in  general  that  price 
and  availability  of  land  at  present  are  such  as  not  to  be  a  serious 
obstacle.  Unimproved  land  is  held  at  low  figures  because  of  the  diffi- 
culty which  its  owners  find  in  putting  it  to  profitable  use.  This  condi- 
tion in  reality  should  act  as  a  stimulus  to  building. 

Materials 

The  widest  latitude  in  the  use  of  approved  materials  should  be  en- 
couraged. Especially  should  this  be  emphasized  for  the  purpose  of 
relieving  transportation  congestion  and  the,  lowering  of  building  costs. 
Because  numerous  sources  of  supply  can  generally  be  drawn  upon,  con- 
crete is  one  of  the  most  readily  procurable  building  materials. 

There  is  now  a  famine  of  houses.  There  is  also  a  heavy  demand 
for  building  materials  for  other  and  less  important  uses.  Materials 
needed  for  home  construction  should  be  regarded  as  in  an  essential 
class,  and  as  such  be  given  preferred  consideration  in  manufacture  and 
distribution.  Manufacturers  of  such  materials  should  give  priority  in 
shipment  when  intended  for  this  purpose,  as  opposed  to  other  uses 
less  essential  to  the  public  welfare.  These  recommendations  should  be 
brought  to  the  attention  of  manufacturers  of  building  materials  and 
manufacturers  of  all  other  essential  appointments  entering  into  the 
completion  of  homes. 

Labor 

Full  recognition  should  be  given  to  the  fact  that  the  laborer's  cost 
of  subsistence  has  greatly  increased.  Every  available  means  should 
be  employed  to  call  the  attention  of  labor  to  the  fact  that  it  injures  itself 
by  arbitrarily  retarding  construction.  Diminished  construction  results 
in  high  rents.  These  nullify  the  benefits  derived  from  high  wages  to 
the  extent  of  the  advance  in  rents.  Labor's  attention  should  be  di- 
rected to  the  fact  that  opposition  to  improved  methods  and  processes 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  IS 

of  construction  will  postpone,  if  not  defeat,  efforts  to  quickly  increase 
the  supply  of  houses,  while  the  cooperation  of  labor  in  every  unselfish, 
patriotic  way  will  help  labor  as  well  as  the  whole  people. 

The  urgent  necessity  of  labor  assuming  its  full  responsibility  in 
the  production  of  satisfactory  houses  by  the  use  of  efficient  and  econom- 
ical methods  should  be  apparent  to  all. 

Cooperation  on  the  part  of  labor  should  be  evidenced  by  its  willing- 
ness to  arbitrate  all  questions  the  non-settlement  of  which  tends  to  re- 
tard construction  and  thus  to  increase  its  cost.  The  establishment  of 
such  organizations  as  the  National  Board  of  Jurisdictionfd  Awards, 
whose  purpose  is  directed  toward  minimizing  the  economic  waste  of 
such  disputes,  is  to  be  highly  commended,  as  it  affords  the  best  method 
yet  presented  for  the  settlement  of  questions  between  various  building 
trades.  This  principle  of  cooperation  should  be  extended  so  as  to  pro- 
vide the  means  of  settling  questions  in  disputes  between  employees 
and  employers  without  sacrificing  the  interests  of  the  public  or  any  of 
the  parties  directly  concerned. 

Labor  should  appreciate  the  fact  that  it  cannot  expect  the  support 
of  public  sentiment  in  any  attempt  to  condemn  the  use,  of  certain  ma- 
terials and  methods  of  construction  unless  such  methods  and  materials 
adversely  affect  the  health  and  safety  of  workers  or  the  public. 

Finance 

The  principal  financial  legislation  of  the  past  few  years  has  re- 
sulted in  the  establishment  of  the  Federal  Eeserve  System  and  the 
Federal  Farm  Loan  System.  The  Federal  Reserve  System  was  designed 
especially  to  promote  the  facilities  for  commercial  banking.  The  Federal 
Farm  Loan  Banking  System  was  designed  to  promote  the  building  up  of 
rural  communities.  Up  to  the  present,  facilities  for  increasing  the  avail- 
ability of  money  for  improvement  of  city  real  estate  have  not  been 
provided. 

Partly  as  a  result  of  the  creation  of  the  Federal  Reserve  System, 
money,  during  the  past  few  years,  has  been  drawn  away  from  long  term 
investments  in  favor  of  short  term  loans,  with  the  result  that,  while 
savings  in  the  United  States  are  estimated  to  have  increased  200  per 
cent  from  1913  to  1918,  and  the  total  loans  and  discounts  of  banking 
increased  54  per  cent,  the  combined  real  estate  loans  of  banks  and 
insurance  companies  and  building  and  loan  associations  increased  only 
28  per  cent  in  the  same  period. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  it  appears  necessaiy  that  this  hitherto  neg- 
lected portion  of  our  banking  system  should  be  taken  care  of  through 
adequate  legislation. 

One  of  the  chief  problems  encountered  is  lack  of  funds  to  finance 
home  building.  It  is  desirable  in  the  public  interest  that  the  funds 
now  tied  up  in  first  mortgages  held  by  the  building  and  loan  associations 
be  made  available  for  dwelling  house  construction  and  that  the  '  *  Federal 
Building  Loan  Act,"  Bills  S.  2492  and  H.  R.  7597  entitled  ''A  Bill  to 
Encourage  Home  Ownership  and  to  Stimulate  the  Buying  and  Building 
of  Homes;  to  Create  a  Standard  Form  of  Investment  Based  on  Build- 
ing Association   Mortgages;   to   Create   Government  Depositories  and 


14  PROCEEDINGS    OF   NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

Financial  Agents  for  the  United  States;  to  Furnish  a  Market  for 
Government  Bonds;  and  for  Other  Purposes/'  be  endorsed  by  this 
Conference. 

Much  money  hitherto  invested  in  first  mortgages  on  dwelling  houses 
is  being  diverted  to  non-taxable  investment  channels.  It  is  desirable 
that  exemption  from  income  tax  be  granted  to  such  investments.  Bills 
S.  2094  and  H.  R.  8080,  entitled  ''A  Bill  to  Encourage  the  Building 
of  Homes  by  Providing  for  the  Exemption  from  Taxation  of  the  Income 
from  Mortgages  on  Eeal  Estate''  should  be  endorsed  by  this  Conference; 
and  we  urge  that  members  of  this  Conference  write  to  their  Senators 
and  Congressmen,  and  endeavor  to  have  others  do  likewise,  urging  them 
to  support  and  favor  the  prompt  enactment  of  these  bills. 

There  is  now  proposed  an  amendment  to  the  Federal  Reserve  Act 
requiring  that  National  Banks  maintaining  savings  departments  shall 
invest  all  savings  deposits  in  such  forms  of  securities  as  may  be  directed 
by  the  Federal  Reserve  Board.  Since  the  object  of  the  proposed  amend- 
ment is  the  adequate  protection  of  the  interests  of  depositors,  and  since 
its  effect  will  be  the  diversion  of  more  than  two  billion  of  dollars,  now 
held  in  savings  accounts,  from  short  term  loans  to  long  term  invest- 
ment in  construction  enterprise — a  sum  equal  to  the  present  combined 
assets  of  the  building  and  loan  associations  of  the  United  States — the 
enactment  of  this  measure  is  recommended. 

Recognizing  the  fact  that  the  building  and  loan  associations  of 
America  are  an  important  factor  in  financing  home  building  and  home 
ownership,  and  that  these  institutions  confine  their  activities  to  teaching 
thrift  and  financing  home  ownership,  we  urge  all  organizations  and  indi- 
viduals interested  in  promoting  the  construction  of  homes  to  affiliate 
and  cooperate  with  building  and  loan  associations  in  their  localities  and 
to  assist  in  forming  such  associations  where  they  do  not  now  exist. 

As  the  most  difficult  financial  obstacle  to  the  construction  of  homes 
is  that  of  filling  the  gap  between  the  amount  obtainable  on  first  mort- 
gages and  the  amount  the  purchaser  is  able  to  invest,  this  Conference 
commends  the  work  of  community  housing  corporations  and  employers 
of  labor  who  are  using  their  own  funds  or  credit  to  relieve  the  urgency  of 
the  present  housing  shortage. 

Design 

To  secure  results  that  will  satisfactorily  meet  present  housing 
needs,  safety  and  economy  in  the  construction  of  homes  must  be  recog- 
nized as  of  paramount  importance.  These  are  attainable  only  through 
the  use  of  the  most  adaptable  materials  applied  by  the  best  talent  in 
design  and  construction. 

It  is,  therefore,  recommended  that  the  organizations  and  individuals 
cooperating  in  the  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction 
enlist  the  cooperation  of  others  not  yet  identified  with  the  Conference 
to  work  with  them  in  securing  designs  and  specifications  for  small 
houses  that  will  give  proper  recognition  to  the  numerous  advantages 
of  concrete  in  its  possible  forms  of  application,  and  in  this  way  help 
to  increase  and  perpetuate  the  value  of  this  Conference. 

In  order  that  these  data  may  be  made  available  to  all  who  wish 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  15 

to  design,  build  or  buy  a  home,  we  recommend  the  institution  of  a 
National  Competition,  with  judges  of  such  recognized  standing  as  to 
inspire  confidence  necessary  to  enlisting  best  efforts  of  which  contest- 
ants are  capable,  with  prizes  in  number  and  value  to  attract  such  talent. 

As  an  aid  to  the  furtherance  of  this  idea  it  is  recommended  that  all 
interested  submit  data  on  every  method  by  which  concrete  can  be  ap- 
plied in  the  construction  of  houses,  to  enable  intelligent  selection  and 
application  of  the  best  in  design  and  specifications.  The  conditions  of 
the  competition  should  be  made  sufficiently  broad  to  secure  the  sup- 
port of  engineers,  practical  builders  or  any  others  who  have  developed 
safe  and  economical  systems  of  wall,  floor  and  roof  construction  or  any 
devices  that  will  make  houses  more  comfortable  as  a  shelter,  more  at- 
tractive and  cheerful  as  homes,  and  stimulate  incentive  to  build  houses 
for  investment.  Economy  in  erection,  low  cost  of  maintenance,  reduc- 
tion of  fire  risk  and  cost  of  insurance  should  anticipate  the  use  of  fire 
resisting  materials  wherever  practical. 

It  is  further  recommended  that  a  Bureau  Committee  of  Informa- 
tion and  Research  be  established  to  devise,  promote  and  educate  along 
lines  conducive  to  more  extensive  use  of  concrete  and  the  advancement 
of  concrete  design  in  home  building. 

Transportation 

Adequate  building  operations  are  dependent  upon  uninterrupted 
transportation  at  reasonable  freight  rates.  The  transportation  systems 
of  the  United  States  and  Canada  have  been  and  are  insufficient  to 
transport  all  traffic  offered.  The  movement  of  building  materials  has 
been  restricted  and  impeded  by  insufficient  cars,  and  by  preference 
accorded  to  other  commodities  in  car  supply,  resulting  in  the  serious 
curtailment  of  building  operations. 

Materials  used  in  building  operations,  such  as  cement,  brick,  stone, 
lumber,  steel,  etc.,  are  shipped  in  carloads.  The  majority  of  them  are 
transported  for  relatively  short  distances  only,  and  utilize  the  full 
cubical  or  weight  carrying  capacity  of  cars.  Concrete  construction 
forms  an  integral  part  of  all  building — often  the  entire  structure — and 
requires  a  minimum  of  transportation.  The  average  rail  haul  of  a  car 
of  cement  in  normal  times  is  approximately  175  miles,  and  the  loading 
is  to  the  carrying  capacity  of  the  car,  while  such  building  materials  as 
sand,  gravel,  stone,  etc.,  are  usually  secured  at  locations  so  near  the 
job  that  they  require  relatively  little  transportation;  hence  concrete 
construction  requires  less  transportation  per  unit  of  weight  or  measure- 
ment than  other  forms  of  construction. 

The  freight  rates  on  traffic  in  general  throughout  the  United  States, 
on  June  25,  1918,  were  increased  25  per  cent  as  a  war  measure,  while  the 
average  advance  made  in  freight  rates  on  building  materials  was  50  per 
cent.  In  the  case  of  building  construction,  the  transportation  rate  plays 
a  very  important  part.  The  ratio  of  freight  paid  to  total  cost  is  higher 
with  reference  to  building  materials  than  to  commodities  in  general; 
for  instance,  on  sand,  the  rate  of  freight  is  often  many  times  the  value 
of  the  sand  at  the  pit,  while  on  a  silk  shirt  the  cost  of  transporting 
across  the  continent  is  so  small  a  per  cent  of  the  selling  price  as  to  be 
negligible.    Therefore,  to  increase  the  freight  charges  on  building  ma- 


16  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

terials  one  cent  per  hundred  pounds  is  to  enhance  the  cost  of  the  struc- 
ture greatly.  This  is  permanently  reflected  in  the  rental.  An  increase 
of  even  $5  per  one  hundred  pounds  in  the  rate  on  silk  shirts  would  be 
barely  noticeable  to  the  purchaser.  Any  further  advance  in  freight 
rates  on  building  material  will  retard  building  operations  and  will  serve 
to  perpetuate  and  further  aggravate  the  inequitable  and  unjust  advance 
in  the  rates  on  building  materials  that  was  put  into  effect  on  June  25, 
1918. 

Instead  of  being  classified  as  ''Miscellaneous,"  building  materials 
should  be  placed  in  a  class  by  themselves. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  period  of  Federal  control  the  U.  S. 
Railroad  Administration  (and  upon  the  return  of  carriers  to  private 
control  and  operation,  the  carrier  corporations)  in  the  distribution  of 
empty  cars,  should  subordinate  shipment  of  building  materials  only  to 
the  movement  of  coal  and  essential  food  articles  and  should  issue  such 
priority  orders  as  will  insure  the  unrestricted  shipment  of  building 
materials. 

No  further  increase  in  freight  rates  on  building  materials  and  equip- 
ment should  be  allowed  by  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  or  by 
the  various  State  utility  commissions  having  jurisdiction  in  such  matter, 
pending  the  relief  from  the  house  famine. 

Legislation  and  Building  Codes 

It  is  urged  that  building  officials  give  their  support  and  influence 
in  securing  economies  in  construction  by  standardization  of  require- 
ments for  building  materials  and  supplies  of  all  kinds  and  the  removal 
of  undue  restrictions  applying  to  the  erection  of  homes.  It  is  particu- 
larly urged  that  legislative  bodies  enact  more  reasonable  laws  governing 
the  use  of  concrete  in  the  erection  of  houses  so  that  the  construction  of 
better  and  more  nearly  fireproof  and  permanent  structures  may  be  en- 
couraged as  contrasted  with  an  existing  tendency  to  accept  less  desirable 
construction,  while  the  users  of  better  materials  are  frequently  penalized 
by  excessive  requirements.  The  thickness  of  walls  as  frequently  re- 
quired by  present  building  laws  is  greater  than  is  essential  to  the  safety 
of  the  structure.  The  requirements  for  the  use  of  concrete  in  dwellings 
are  fixed  by  regulations  which  govern  the  construction  of  warehouses. 
Light  walls  and  floors,  possible  with  concrete  and  ample  for  the  needs 
of  the  ordinary  house,  are  prohibited  by  these  laws.  Nor  does  the  value 
of  the  concrete  from  the  standpoint  of  fire  protection  receive  the  recog- 
nition it  deserves.  If  these  discriminations  were  removed  there  would 
be  made  available  for  more  extensive  use  a  material,  to  a  large  extent 
of  local  origin  and  employing  local  labor  in  its  fabrication  for  the  relief 
of  the  housing  situation. 

We  submit  the  foregoing  to  all  citizens  and  groups  of  citizens  who 
may  be  interested  in  solving  a  problem  rapidly  becoming  the  most  acute 
which  the  nation  has  to  face.  We  believe  that  informed  public  opinion 
is  the  greatest  agency  for  the  accomplishment  of  necessary  and  desirable 
changes. 

With  the  housing  famine  already  of  a  most  serious  nature,  we  face 
an  industrial  developmjent  in  which  every  thousand  dollars  invested  in 
a  plant  would  require  about  $5,000  invested  in  housing. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  17 

We  submit  that  no  one  should  rest  content  with  informing  himself 
as  to  this  situation,  but  should  make  opportunities  to  impress  upon  others 
the  necessity  for  putting  into  effect  the  foregoing  principles. 

That  the  use  of  concrete  as  a  building  material  may  make  a  sub- 
stantial contribution  to  the  solution  of  the  housing  problem  is  our 
substantial  belief,  and  the  more  intelligent,  comprehensive  and  effective 
the  use  of  this  material,  the  greater  will  be  its  contribution  to  that  most 
desired  solution. 

These  beliefs  justify  our  meeting  at  this  time  to  consider  what  aid 
we  may  bring  towards  solving  a  problem,  the  solution  of  which  may 
accomplish  more  for  the  safety  and  welfare  of  the  people  than  any  other 
step  that  can  be  taken  at  this  time. 

They  further  justify  the  recommendation  that  this  Conference  be 
made  a  permanent  organization,  that  the  officers  and  advisory  board 
be  continued  subject  to  such  changes  and  additions  as  its  membership 
may  elect,  and  subject  to  their  call  for  a  second  conference  approxi- 
mately one  year  from  date. 

In  view  of  the  many  organizations  affiliating  with  the  Conference, 
whether  because  of  their  commercial  interest  in  furthering  the  use  of 
cement,  or  because  in  various  other  ways  allied  with  or  interested  in  the 
use  of  cement,  the  remarkable  registration  of  nearly  600  persons,  from 
all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  indicates  that  the  Conference 
might  more  correctly  have  been  called  "International."  It  is,  therefore, 
recommended  that  in  the  call  for  the  second  conference,  the  name  Inter- 
national Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction  be  substituted  for 
the  present  designation. 

He  serves  himself  best' who  serves  his  country  best.  He  makes  his 
own  rights  secure  who  respects  the  equal  rights  of  others.  The  right 
to  equality  of  opportunity  is  a  statement  of  only  half  the  case.  There 
must  be  equality  of  responsibility  as  well  if  the  Nation  is  to  maintain  its 
equilibrium. 

Service  for  service  is  the  law  of  life.  The  consciousness  of  owning 
a  stake  in  the  country  is  a  prime  factor  in  intelligent  patriotism,  since 
in  this  light  the  encouragement  of  home  ownership  assumes  the  aspect 
of  a  high  civic  virtue. 

To  clear  away  the  obstacles  which  prevent  every  citizen  who  wills 
it  from  becoming  a  home  owner,  is  a  moral  obligation  upon  everyone 
whose  intelligence  is  sufficiently  developed  to  enable  him  to  estimate  the 
importance  of  such  a  policy. 


18 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


COMMITTEE  ON  RESOLUTIONS 


Franklin  T.  Millee,  Chairman 
President,  F.  W.  Dodge  Co.,  New  York 

H.  Colin  Campbell,  Secretary 
Director  Editorial  Bureau,  Portland 
Cement  Association,  Chicago 

Dr.  Wm.  K.  Hatt 

President,    American    Concrete    In- 
stitute 
Professor  of  Civil  Engineering,  Pur- 
due University,  Lafayette,  Ind. 
J.  K.  Harridge 

President,    Concrete    Products   Asso- 
ciation, Chicago 

H.  S.  Van  Scoyoc 

Manager   Publicity,   Canada   Cement 
Co.,  Ltd.,  Montreal 

J.  D.  Stoddard 

President,    Concrete    Brick    &    Tile 
Co.,  Detroit 

M.  Wetstein 
President,  Concrete  Block  Machinery 
Association,  Cincinnati 

John  J.  Porter 
Director,  Hagerstown  Homes  Corp., 
Hagerstown,  Md. 

F.   M.    COOGAN 

President,  Phillipsburg  Development 
Co.,  Easton,  Pa. 

Rudolph  Miller 
Chairman,  Building  Officials  Confer- 
ence, New  York 

W.  C.  Robinson 
Vice  President  and  Chief  Engineer, 
Underwriters     Laboratories,     Chi- 
cago 

K.  H.  Talbot 

Koehring  Machine  Co.,  Milwaukee 

C.  F.  Lang 

Lakewood    Engineering    Co.,    Cleve- 
land 


W.  R.  Harris 

Editor,   Concrete   Products,   Chicago 
Leslie  H,  Allen 

Fred  T.  Ley  &  Co.,  Springfield,  Mass. 

F.  W.  Dunn 

W.  E.  Dunn  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chi- 
cago 

G.  B.  Arthur 

Sales  Manager,  Waterloo  Construc- 
tion Machinery  Co.,  Waterloo,  la. 

L.    P.    WiLLSEA 

President,  Century  Cement  Machin- 
ery Co.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
J.  H.  Libberton 
Universal  Poirtland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago 
Adolf  Schilling 
The  Stonecrete  Co.,  Haddon  Heights, 
N.  J. 
Warren  A.  Rogers 

President,    Hamilton    Concrete    Ma- 
chinery Co.,  Cleveland 
F.  L.  Williamson 
Vice  President,  Dewey  Portland  Ce- 
ment Co.,  Kansas  City 
Harvey  Whipple 

Editor,   Concrete,  Detroit 
Ernest  Ashton 
Chemical  Engineer,  Lehigh  Portland 
Cement  Co.,  Allentown,  Pa. 
J.  B.  Davidson 

Professor  of  Agricultural  Engineer- 
ing, Iowa  State  College,  Ames,  la. 

Henry  Holsman 

President,  Illinois  Chapter,  Ameri- 
can Institute  of  Architects,  Chi- 
cago 

J.  L.  Clarkson 

Secretary,  National  Federation  of 
Construction  Industries,  Philadel- 
phia. 


02J   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  19 


OPENING  SESSION 


NATIONAL  CONFERENCE  ON 
CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION 

Conference  called  to  order  2:30  p.  m., 

Tuesday,  February  17,  1920,  by 

Ernest  T.  Trigg,  President 

National  Federation  of  Construction  Industries 

The  Chairman  :  The  first  matter  on  our  program  will  be  the  read- 
ing by  the  Secretary  of  the  call  for  this  Conference. 

CALL  TO  THE  CONFERENCE 

The  shortage  of  houses  in  the  United  States  has  reached  an  acute 
stage.  The  need  for  dwellings  has  become  so  great  that  the  subject  is 
attracting  more  attention  than  did  the  food  shortage  during  the  war.  In- 
cidentally, confusion,  inconvenience  and  direct  loss  caused  by  this  sit- 
uation must  also  be  speedily  relieved  and  presented.  The  housing  prob- 
lem in  this  country  has  progressed  to  a  point  where  interest  in  its  proper 
solution  by  commercial  concerns  has  become  a  matter  of  national  welfare 
rather  than  of  opportunity  to  capitalize  a  current  public  need. 

It  is  a  truism  that  in  a  development  of  almost  any  kind,  those 
who  obtain  livelihood  by  the  execution  of  the  plan,  are  the  ones  who 
may  be  depended  upon  for  quick  and  sure  action  toward  its  enactment. 
In  an  emergency  of  this  kind,  however,  the  seriousness  and  the  urgency 
of  the  public  need  for  houses  must  make  subservient  all  other  motives 
for  building  them.  Among  all  those  whose  labors  are  devoted  to  the 
planning  or  building  of  houses,  there  should  be  a  feeling  of  personal 
and  collective  responsibility  to  contribute  their  maximum  efforts  for 
more  and  better  houses.  They  should  be  expected  to  analyze  the  public 
need  for  houses  and  to  plan  intelligently  to  take  care  of  that  need. 
In  so  doing,  every  source  of  information  should  be  canvassed  and  oppor- 
tunity be  provided  for  free  and  open  discussion. 

The  organizations  and  individuals  joining  in  this  Conference  come 
here  at  this  time  to  study  the  broad  aspects  of  the  house  problem  and 
to  crystalize  and  solidify  ideas  having  to  do  with  the  building  of  concrete 
houses.  The  first  reason  for  the  Conference  is  fundamental,  for  without 
an  intelligent  grasp  of  the  limitations  and  requirements,  any  move  on 
the  part  of  any  industrial  group  looking  toward  the  solution  of  the 
problem  would  be  doomed  in  advance  to  only  partial  success  at  the  best. 
The  second  reason  for  the  Conference  reveals  the  conviction  of  this  group 
of  industrial  organizations  that  the  concrete  house  has  not  contributed 
its  share  to  the  solution  of  the  shortage,  and  also  discloses  confidence  in 
their  joint  -ability  to  solve  many  of  the  details  of  using  concrete  in  house 
construction,  which  have  proven  troublesome  in  the  past. 


20  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

In  shaping  the  preliminary  organization  for  this  Conference,  the 
Secretary  was  mindful  that  the  time  allotted  was  limited.  The  date  set 
was  assumed  to  be  as  late  as  would  be  practicable,  considering  the  desir- 
ability of  putting  into  the  hands  of  those  to  whom  they  would  be  of 
service  during  the  building  season  of  1920,  any  of  the  constructive  ideas 
which  the  Conference  might  develop. 

The  distinguished  members  of  the  Advisory  Committee  consented, 
by  their  acceptance  of  membership  on  that  Committee,  to  sponsor  the 
broad,  general  ideas  on  which  this  Conference  is  founded  and  to  their 
help  much  of  the  interest  in  this  meeting  must  be  attributed. 

It  is  not  without  significance  that  organizations  throughout  the 
country,  interested  in  construction  matters,  have  banded  together  in  a 
strong  cooperative  national  body  known  as  the  National  Federation  of 
Construction  Industries.  It  is  through  the  sponsorship  of  that  great 
parent  organization  acting  to  assist  this  subservient  group  of  building 
organizations,  that  Ernest  T.  Trigg,  President  of  the  Federation  men- 
tioned, issued  the  call  for  this  meeting.  He  has  been  assisted  in  the  work 
by  Dr.  W.  K.  Hatt,  who  is  well  known  both  through  his  connection  with 
Purdue  University  and  as  President  of  the  American  Concrete  Institute, 
and  by  F.  T.  Miller,  President  of  the  F.  W.  Dodge  Co.  of  New  York, 
whose  notable  work  as  Director  of  the  Division  of  Public  Works  and 
Construction  Development,  Washington,  D.  C,  last  year,  developed  so 
much  favorable  comment  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 

The  organizations  cooperating  with  the  Conference  are  the  follow- 
ing: 

American  Concrete  Institute 

Associated  General  Contractors  of  America 

Associated  Metal  Lath  Manufacturers 

Building  Officials  Conference 

Cleveland  Cement  Users  Association 

Concrete  Block  MacJiinery  Association 

Concrete  Mixer  Association 

Concrete  Products  Association  {National) 

Concrete  Products  Association  of  the  Border  Cities  {Windsor j  Ont.) 

Concrete  Products  Club  of  Indianapolis 

Concrete  Roofing  Tile  Association 

Detroit  Concrete  Block  Association 

Greater  Boston  Concrete  Products  Association 

Illinois  Chapter,  American  Institute  of  Architects 

Illinois  Society  of  Architects 

Long  Island  Concrete  Products  Association 

Metal  Forms  Association 

Minneapolis  Concrete  Block  and  Tile  Exchange 

National  Builders  Supply  Association 

National  Federation  of  Construction  Industries 

Penn-Jersey  Block  Makers  Association 

Portland  Cement  Association 

Portland  {Maine)   Concrete  Block  Association 

Reinforcing  Bar  Association 

St.  Paul  Concrete  Block  Association 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  21 

Toledo  Concrete  Block  Association 

TI  S  Leaaiie  of  Building  and  Loan  Associations 

Western  Assodation  of  Concrete  Laundry  Tray  Manufacturers 

The  Chairman  :  It  is  necessary  at  this  time  to  consider  the  matter 
of  our  organization.  I  presume  that  the  meeting  should  vote  upon  its 
officei^  fof  the  remainder  of  its  sessions  and  upon  the  q^^estion  °f  ap^ 
pSig  a  E«solutions  Committee.  Has  anyone  any  suggestions  to  offei 
Is  to  the  officers  for  the  remainder  of  our  sessions? 

John  J  Porter:  I  move  that  the  temporary  officers,  who  have 
so  efficfcntly  handled  the  work  up  to  this  time,  be  made  permanent 

officers.  ,  .       X         4. 

The  Chairman:  The  Chair  finds  it  a  little  embaiTassmg  to  put 
that  motion,  but  this  being  a  matter  of  business  and  not  ^  Personal  affair 
if  there  arc  no  further  nominations  all  in  favor  of  the  motion  please 
signify  by  saying  "Aye." 

(Motion  carried.) 

W  B  Harris:  This  Conference  will,  I  believe,  furnish  opportunity 
for  a  great  deal  of  constructive  thought  such  as  would  probably  be 
c^'stallized  in  the  foi-m  of  resolutions.  We  should  do  what  we  can  to 
d?rect  public  officials'  opinion  to  the  merits  of  concrete  conBtruction  for 
houses,  which  are  badly  needed.  I,  therefore  make  a  moVon  *at  a  Reso- 
lutions Committee  be  appointed  not  only  to  draft  ^-esolutions,  but  to  con- 
sider suggestions  that  will  be  made  to  it  by  persons  attending  this  Con- 
ference. 

(Motion  carried.) 


22  PROCEEDINGS    OF   NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  CHAIRMAN 

Gentlemen  of  the  Conference: 

It  has  given  me  pleasure,  as  the  President  of  the  National  Federation 
of  Construction  Industries,  to  accept  the  honor  of  the  Chairmanship  of 
the  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction.  The  honor  I 
do  not  consider  as  accorded  to  me  personally,  nor  to  the  National  Fed- 
eration of  Construction  Industries,  but  to  an  idea  fundamental  at  this 
time  to  the  construction  industry  of  America,  which  during  the  year 
just  closed  has  grown  from  a  thought  discussed  around  a  dinner  table 
to  a  living  organism,  the  potentiality  of  which  has  already  been  demon- 
strated. I  refer  to  the  comparatively  new  conception  of  the  construc- 
tion industry  as  a  composite  whole  which  has  come  into  the  minds  of 
the  construction  interests,  not  only  of  the  United  States,  but  of  Canada, 
Great  Britain,  France  and  other  countries.  For  it  is  true  that  in  all 
countries  at  about  the  same  time  the  construction  interests  came  to  a 
realization  of  the  necessity  of  coordinated  action  and  a  central  organiza- 
tion, through  which  these  interests  may  become  articulate  in  their 
relationships  to  the  government,  consumers  and  labor,  and  also  through 
which  additional  effectiveness  might  be  obtained  within  the  industry  by 
virtue  of  the  cooperative  action  of  its  several  divisions.  It  is  therefore 
gratifying  to  me  that  I,  who  chance  at  the  moment  to  be  the  President 
of  the  Federation  which  is  the  embodiment  of  this  new  thought  of 
cooperative  action  on  the  part  of  many  divisions  of  the  construction 
industry,  should  be  accorded  the  honor  of  presiding  at  this  meeting, 
because  of  the  faith  which  is  evidenced  thereby  in  this  new  conception 
of  American  business. 

The  past  year  has  been  the  most  critical  of  any  in  the  memory  of 
those  present,  not  only  in  the  construction  industry,  but  in  practically 
every  line  of  business.  The  war  came  to  a  termination  with  startling 
abruptness.  So  far  as  the  United  States  was  concerned,  we  were  barely 
getting  into  our  stride  as  a  warring  nation.  "We  had  not  reached  the 
zenith  of  our  ability  in  the  production  of  war  material,  nor  had  we 
reached  the  utter  demoralization  of  non-war  business  which  would  have 
surely  been  experienced  had  the  war  continued  for  a  longer  period.  On 
the  other  hand,  we  had  not  reached  a  point  where  provisions  were 
actively  in  process  to  lead  the  business  of  the  country  back  into  normal 
peace-time  channels.  Some  one  has  described  the  condition  of  business 
immediately  following  the  armistice  as  one  of  almost  total  paralysis. 

Business  in  general  experienced  these  conditions,  but  the  construc- 
tion industry  was  peculiarly  beset  with  difficulty,  not  only  because  it 
was  affected  as  were  all  lines  of  industry,  but  in  addition  because,  since 
construction  is  essentially  a  peace-time  activity,  the  wheels  of  the  indus- 
try ha^  largely  stopped,  personnel  was  disorganized  and  in  many  cases 
it  was  a  matter  of  beginning  in  the  rehabilitation  of  the  industry  at  the 
very  ground.  We  can  never  know  how  much  of  the  injury  worked  upon 
the  construction  industry  by  government  regulation  was  justified.  The 
requirements  of  the  Government  for  material,  fuel,  transportation, 
finance  and  labor  were  perhaps  reflected  more  drastically  in  the  con- 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  23 

struction  industry  than  in  any  other  branch  of  business.  But  we  had 
sons  over  there  where  the  crisis  of  the  world  was  focused  in  a  sharp,  hot 
point  of  the  most  bitter  contention  man  has  ever  experienced.  We 
believed  in  American  institutions,  and  we  were  not  disposed  to  do  any- 
thing which  might  even  indirectly  minimize  the  safety  of  our  blood  or 
of  the  institutions  which  we  love.  There  were  some  instances  where 
construction  interests  were  able  to  transform  their  activities  into  those 
contributing  to  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  There  were  others  where 
the  Government  actually  required  construction  materials,  but  in  general 
the  construction  industry,  at  the  beginning  of  1919,  found  itself  in  a 
condition  of  utter  disorganization. 

The  story  of  its  recovery  is  familiar  to  all  of  you.  The  path  which 
it  has  followed  during  the  past  year  has  been  full  of  pitfalls.  The 
rapidity  with  which  it  has  returned  approximately  to  normal  conditions 
is  a  monument  not  only  to  the  genius  of  the  leaders  in  our  own  industry, 
but  to  the  American  people  as  a  whole,  for  we  are  interdependent  in  all 
of  our  business  relations. 

The  year  1919  has  been  one  of  intensive  advertising.  This  to  a 
large  degree,  has  been  of  a  new  kind.  We  have  not  so  much  advertised 
our  wares,  as  ideas  which  it  was  necessary  to  inculcate  on  the  minds  of 
the  people  of  this  Nation  before  business  could  again  be  set  going.  The 
advertising  has  accordingly  been  largely  group  advertising,  or,  to  speak 
more  exactly,  educational  propaganda  organized  and  paid  for  by  the 
business  interests  which  were  bound  to  suffer  if  they  could  not  put  their 
arguments  across  in  the  popular  mind.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  American 
business  that  the  educational  propaganda  which  has  been  put  out  during 
the  past  year  has  been  honest  in  its  intention,  logical  in  its  argument 
and,  as  demonstrated,  sound  in  its  premises.  It  is  probable  that  the 
American  nation  never  before  saw  so  great  an  educational  campaign 
along  any  line  as  that  which  was  waged  to  convince  the  American  people 
that  the  then  existing  price  levels  would  not  be  soon  reduced.  There 
was  a  period  early  in  the  year  when  nearly  everyone  believed  that 
prices  would  shortly  decline.  As  we  all  know,  a  declining  market  is  not 
a  healthful  environment  for  business.  The  belief  in  the  imminence  of 
price  decline  was  so  universal  that  an  attempt  was  made  to  pass  through 
an  imaginary  maximum  period  of  decline  at  once,  in  order  that  business 
might  resume  upon  an  ascending  market.  For  a  time  it  was  hoped  that 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Industrial  Board  of  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Commerce  such  an  object  could  be  achieved.  The  failure  of 
the  Board  to  realize  its  purpose  was  undoubtedly  a  strong  argument  in 
favor  of  the  permanence  of  higher  price  levels.  An  understanding  of 
the  psychology  of  the  wage  earner,  of  international  financial  conditions, 
of  the  advanced  standards  of  living  which  had  developed  during  the 
war  and  of  the  depleted  condition  of  stocks  of  material,  eventually  made 
it  perfectly  apparent  that  prices  could  not  be  expected  to  decline,  but 
that  in  many  instances  they  would  probably  advance.  The  educational 
campaign  which  resulted  from  the  realization  of  these  fundamental  facts 
was  undoubtedly  primarily  responsible  for  the  quick  resumption  of 
business.  The  construction  industry  had  an  important  part  in  the 
campaign,  and  supplemented  it  with  other  campaigns,  such,  for  instance, 
as  the  ''Own  Your  Own  Home"  movement,  in  which  all  construction 
interests  cooperated  and  which  realized  the  most  far-reaching  results. 


24  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

The  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction  is  an 
educational  campaign  in  which  all  business  interests  vitally  concerned 
therewith  are  cooperating.  It  is  seeking  to  establish  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  of  the  United  States  an  idea,  which  it  believes  fundamentally 
sound  and  the  realization  of  which  is  expected  to  benefit  not  so  much 
yourselves  as  the  public  at  large.  The  American  nation  is  notorious  in 
the  volume  of  its  fire  losses.  You  are  seeking  to  show  a  way  by  which 
the  capital  wealth  of  the  United  States  may  be  conserved.  It  is  an 
interesting  commentary  upon  American  business  that  insurance  interests 
should  cooperate  with  you  in  an  endeavor  to  convert  the  people  of  this 
nation  to  a  form  of  construction  where  fire  hazard  is  diminished,  and 
that  those  interests  supplying  fire  protection  equipment  are  also  work- 
ing to  educate  the  American  builder  and  property  owner  to  forms  of 
construction  where  the  danger  from  loss  by  fire  is  decreased. 

Construction  is  as  old  as  civilization.  It  is  older  than  the  records 
of  civilization,  or,  to  speak  more  exactly,  the  records  of  the  most  ancient 
of  our  forms  of  civilization  are  contained  chiefly  in  the  monuments  of 
their  constructive  art.  The  massive  stone  structures  of  Egypt  and  the 
crumbling  bricks  of  ancient  Assyria  are  among  the  earliest  evidences 
of  the  industry  of  man. 

The  use  of  portland  cement,  like  the  use  of  steam,  is  an  acquisition 
of  modern  science.  It  is  buried  deep  in  the  earth  to  form  foundations 
of  structures  which  in  size  fairly  rival  the  pyramids  of  old.  Of  it  high- 
ways are  constructed  having  the  permanence  of  the  stone  roads  of 
ancient  Rome.  It  is  fashioned  in  the  form  of  bridges,  which  are  as  sub- 
stantial as  native  rock  and  promise  to  be  as  enduring.  In  the  decorative 
art,  it  is  molded  into  graceful  forms  with  all  of  the  delicate  tracery  of 
the  artist's  hand.  This  wonderful  plastic  rock  is  one  of  the  newest  of 
construction  materials.  Its  use  today  in  common  practice  is  perhaps 
still  crude  as  compared  with  what  it  will  be  tomorrow.  The  applied 
science  concerning  it  is  too  young  for  us  to  suppose  that  cement  has 
reached  its  final  structure  or  to  imagine  all  of  the  uses  to  which  it  may 
be  put. 

It  is  peculiarly  fitting  that  you  as  representatives  of  one  of  the 
newest  and  most  important  of  construction  materials  should  adopt  the 
advanced  methods  here  evidenced  in  your  business  practise.  You  are 
assembled,  I  take  it,  for  a  number  of  reasons.  You  desire  to  wage  an 
educational  campaign.  You  wish  to  sell  the  people  of  America  an  idea. 
At  the  same  time  you  are  not  willing  to  rest  upon  the  laurels  which  you 
have  so  fairly  won,  but  are  determined  if  possible  to  advance  your  art 
to  even  higher  stages  and  to  instruct  your  workmen  in  the  methods 
by  which  most  creditable  results  may  be  obtained.  You  have  common 
interests.  You  are  willing  to  work  in  unity.  You  are  here  to  exchange 
with  each  other  the  knowledge  and  experience  and  ideas  which  have 
come  to  you  since  you  last  met  together.  You  desire,  if  possible,  to  seek 
out  new  means  of  research  which  shall  benefit  not  only  you  but  your 
public.  This  is  an  excellent  illustration  of  the  motive  which  should 
prompt  all  of  us  in  the  construction  industry,  for  whether  we  are 
interested  in  cement  or  brick  or  steel  or  preservative  materials  or  lumber 
or  lime  or  building  hardware,  or  any  one  of  a  hundred  other  things 
entering  into  construction  today,  we  are  all  members  of  one  great  indus- 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  25 

try,  the  greatest  industry  in  the  United  States,  and  hence  in  the  world, 
the  industry  which  is  supreme  in  the  production  of  those  things  which 
remain  permanent  in  the  possession  of  the  people  of  the  capital  wealth 
of  the  nation.  It  is  this  thought  which  has  led  the  Federation  to  adopt 
the  pyramid  as  a  symbol  of  permanence  and  stability. 

I  say  we  are  members  of  the  greatest  industry  in  the  world.  In 
normal  times  the  construction  industry  of  the  United  States  produces 
Three  Billion  Dollars  of  added  permanent  taxable  wealth  annually.  It 
supplies  more  than  one-quarter  of  the  railroad  tonnage  of  the  country. 
It  employs  more  men  than  any  other  industry.  Its  activities  are 
extended  into  the  smallest  communities;  its  influence  is  felt  in  many 
lines  of  business  not  directly  connected  with  it. 

We  have  issued  from  the  travail  of  a  great  war,  which  has  abruptly 
swept  aside  some  of  our  oldest  traditions.  Business  is  advancing  along 
new  lines.  International  relationships  have  taken  on  new  aspects.  The 
methods  by  which  we  must  carry  on  our  business  in  the  future  are  aptly 
illustrated  by  the  spirit  which  prompts  this  National  Conference  on 
Concrete  House  Construction.  This  spirit  is  one  of  working  together 
for  the  common  good  of  those  in  your  industry  and  of  your  patrons. 

It  is  this  same  spirit  of  cooperation  which  must  cany  us  even 
beyond  the  admirable  motives  which  prompt  your  Conference.  We 
remember  the  results  which  it  was  recently  possible  for  us  as  a  nation 
to  obtain  through  concerted  action,  but  I  fear  we  are  prone  to  forget 
that  a  similar  concert  of  action  is  at  this  time  as  vital  to  the  welfare  of 
the  people  of  this  country  as  it  was  during  the  war.  I  have  previously 
referred  to  the  disorganized  condition  of  business  which  existed  at  the 
beginning  of  1919.  The  very  pressure  of  circumstances  has  resulted  in  a 
volume  of  business  during  the  months  just  passed  which  has  been  truly 
phenomenal.  We  have,  however,  not  passed  out  of  the  stage  of  recon- 
struction. Concerted  effort  in  the  attainment  of  stable  peace-time  con- 
ditions is  today  of  the  most  vital  importance  to  all  of  us.  I  sometimes 
wonder  if  our  present  prosperity  is  truly  indicative  of  a  soundness  of 
business.  I  raise  the  question  for  your  consideration,  whether  it  is  not 
possible  that  we  shall  in  the  near  future  be  rudely  awakened  from  our 
almost  complete  absorption  with  the  things  of  today  to  find  that  our 
failure  to  have  attended  beforehand  to  some  of  the  things  of  tomorrow 
has  resulted  in  an  unfavorable  reaction. 

The  present  is  a  day  of  violent  anomalies.  Leaving  aside  the  ques- 
tion of  the  purchasing  power  of  a  dollar — which  in  the  final  analysis  is 
purely  relative — we  find  that  there  is  a  universal  demand  for  better 
living  conditions,  accompanied  by  an  equally  insistent  demand  for 
more  hours  of  leisure.  If  at  any  time  in  the  history  of  a  people  the 
standard  of  living  is  suddenly,  elevated  to  a  new  plane,  the  effect  econom- 
ically is  the  same  as  if  there  had  been  a  sudden  addition  to  the  popula- 
tion of  millions  of  non-producing  consumers.  The  corollary  of  a  higher 
standard  of  living,  which  is  most  laudable  in  itself,  is  undeniably 
increased  production.  We  cannot  consume  that  which  is  not  produced. 
If  we  would  have  more  of  this  world's  goods,  as  a  nation  of  over  one 
hundred  million  souls,  we  must  produce  more  goods.  It  is  not  a  question 
of  our  individual  purchasing  power.  We  cannot  buy  that  which  does 
not  exist.     It  is  emphatically  a  question  of  our  collective  producing 


26  PROCEEDINGS    OF   NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

ability ;  and  it  is  a  fact,  according  to  those  who  should  be  in  a  position 
to  know  whereof  they  speak,  that  while  the  per  capita  demand  for  com- 
modities is  increasing  in  a  way  never  before  experienced,  the  per  capita 
production  of  commodities  is  decreasing.  If  by  the  magic  of  some 
Aladdin's  lamp  we  were  to  be  able  suddenly  to  place  in  the  hands  of 
every  person  in  the  United  States  a  million  dollars  in  gold,  the  condi- 
tion whereof  I  speak  would  not  be  altered  in  the  slightest. 

If  the  new  price  level  is  approximately  permanent,  our  business, 
other  things  being  equal,  can  continue  unhampered.  The  signifi- 
cance of  the  new  price  level,  excepting  considerations  of  international 
exchange,  involves  only  the  larger  circulation  of  currency;  but  the 
relationship  of  production  to  consumption,  if  the  latter  is  larger  than 
the  former,  must  inevitably  result  in  ruin  through  the  opportunity 
thereby  created  for  the  further  exploitation  in  price  of  the  commodities 
which  are  available.  So  long  as  consumption  exceeds  production  the 
opportunity  for  profiteering  not  only  exists  but  is  strongly  tempting. 

The  National  Federation  of  Construction  Industries,  realizing  this 
condition,  has  warned  the  component  elements  of  the  industry  from 
time  to  time  as  to  the  danger  to  the  public  welfare  which  is  inherent 
in  further  increases  in  price ;  and  I  am  happy  to  say  that  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  in  many  instances  demand  has  exceeded  supply,  the 
percentage  advance  in  the  cost  of  construction  materials  has  been  kept 
well  below  the  average  of  the  advance  in  price  of  all  commodities. 

The  questions  of  thrift  and  of  production  are  of  transcendent 
importance  to  the  public  welfare  at  this  time.  They  have  called  for  an 
educational  propaganda  which  is  still  in  process,  and  which  in  some 
particulars  is  more  difficult  than  that  which  related  to  the  permanency 
of  the  new  price  level.  Until  a  proper  psychological  balance  shall  have 
been  restored  in  the  minds  of  our  people  as  to  these  two  economic 
factors  of  production  and  consumption,  our  nation  is  in  danger.  Until 
this  balance  shall  have  been  restored,  we  shall  remain  in  what  some 
have  chosen  to  call  the  reconstruction  period,  during  which  period  our 
only  hope  lies  in  concerted  action,  not  for  our  individual  good  but  for 
our  collective  welfare. 

There  are  other  strong  considerations  which  demand  our  attention. 
We  are  approaching  a  time  when  by  constitutional  provision  we  shall 
determine  upon  the  political  leadership  of  our  Government  for  the  next 
ensuing  period  of  four  years.  It  is  a  period  which  will  be  marked  by 
decisions  and  determinations  of  policy  of  the  most  far-reaching  impor- 
tance. The  Government  has  played  a  more  intimate  part  in  the  business 
affairs  of  the  nation  during  the  past  few  years  than  ever  before  in  our 
memory,  and  it  is  apparent  that  to  some  degree  at  least  this  intimate 
relationship  will  continue  for  some  time  to  come.  Business  is  not,  as 
some  of  the  uninformed  would  tell  us,  an  affair  of  capital.  The  condi- 
tions of  business  affect  the  whole  people  and  upon  its  proper  guidance 
depends  the  welfare  of  all  of  us.  It  also  involves,  to  a  greater  degree 
than  ever  before,  questions  of  foreign  relationships.  The  unprecedented 
condition  of  world  finance  and  exchange  requires  in  its  handling  the 
highest  ability.  The  leadership  of  our  country  and  the  formulation  of 
policies  during  the  immediate  future  should  not  be  left  to  professional 
politicians  or  theorists.     Our  final  emergence  upon  a  broad  plain  of 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  27 

substantial  economic  security  as  a  nation  is  conditioned  upon  the  same 
quality  of  administrative  guidance  which  characterizes  any  well  organ- 
ized and  operated  business.  The  situation  which  confronts  us  calls  most 
emphatically  for  a  business  man  of  the  highest  order  as  the  next  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  one  who  will  surround  himself  with  cabinet 
officers  of  recognized  administrative  genius.  The  present  is  not  a  time 
for  political  spoils  or  partisanship  or  petty  jealousies.  Our  need  for 
concerted  action  to  accomplish  the  restoration  of  the  country  to  its 
former  strength  and  stability  was  never  exceeded  by  the  requirements 
for  unity  of  endeavor  during  the  war.  Notwithstanding  this  fact,  strong 
partisanship  is  evidenced  at  the  present  moment.  Many  of  our  political 
leaders  of  both  parties,  apparently  heedless  of  the  seriousness  of  present 
conditions,  are  engrossed  with  the  search  for  party  issues  which  will 
insure  factional  success,  while  organized  labor  seeks  to  discover  a  method 
by  which  the  Government  may  be  deprived  of  the  elective  service  of 
American  citizens  who  do  not  bear  the  symbol  of  class  rule — the  union 
label.  These  are  considerations  which  make  it  not  only  desirable  but 
necessary  that  as  business  men  we  shall  give  more  attention  to  matters 
not  immediately  concerned  with  our  business.  The  spirit  which  prompts 
the  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction  is  one  of  unity 
of  action.  It  is  a  spirit  which  should  actuate  us  even  in  larger  groups 
of  interests  than  are  here  represented.  The  combined  construction  in- 
dustry, when  it  is  completely  organized,  will  become  one  of  the  most 
powerful  forces  of  the  business  world. 

I  am  reminded  of  a  quotation  which  I  saw  a  few  days  ago:  **He 
who  builds  for  himself  alone  is  a  complete  failure  even  though  his  towers 
touch  the  sky  and  death  breaks  his  grasp  on  a  billion. ' '  Your  assembling 
here  is  a  testimony  of  your  belief  in  the  ideal  of  cooperation.  For  this 
reason,  it  affords  me  a  peculiar  pleasure,  as  Chairman  of  your  Confer- 
ence, to  welcome  you  here  and  to  extend  to  you  my  most  sincere  hope 
that  you  may  accomplish  to  the  fullest  degree  those  things  of  which  you 
are  so  eminently  worthy. 


28  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

The  Chairman:  It  is  with  regret  that  I  have  to  announce  that 
Senator  Calder  finds  it  impossible  to  be  with  ns  today.  He  has,  however, 
sent  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Conference  the  following  telegram: 

(COPY  OF  NIGHT  LETTER) 

Washington,  D.  C,  February  16,  1920. 
A.  J.  R.  Curtis, 

National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction, 
Auditorium  Hotel,  Chicago,  III. 

I  regret  exceedingly  that  pressure  of  public  business  here  prevents 
me  from  keeping  my  engagement  to  speak  at  the  National  Conference 
on  Concrete  House  Construction  at  Chicago  on  Tuesday.  I  know  that 
you  are  aware  of  the  fact  that  I  am  deeply  interested  in  the  subject 
of  building  construction  and  looked  forward  with  pleasure  to  meeting 
the  members  of  your  organization  and  discussing  with  them  the  problems 
that  are  confronting  us.  I  am  in  accord  with  the  purpose  of  the  Con- 
ference to  bring  about  a  more  efficient  use  of  cement — one  of  the  most 
essential  building  materials — and  I  trust  that  the  example  of  the  pro- 
gressive cement  industry  may  be  followed  by  the  clay  products  industry, 
the  lumber  industry  and  the  tile  industry,  manufacturers  of  elevators, 
plumbing  goods,  etc.,  in  speedily  meeting  to  consider  methods  of 
standardization  of  their  products  and  possible  uses  of  their  by-products, 
for  it  is  chiefly  through  the  more  efficient  use  of  building  materials 
and  through  the  standardization  of  building  construction  that  it  may 
be  possible  to  reduce  the  cost  of  building,  which  is  otherwise  dependent 
upon  freight,  fuel  and  labor  rates.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  more  ade- 
quate system  of  long  term  credits  may  soon  be  devised  which  will 
restore  to  the  building  industry  adequate  financial  resources. 

(Signed)    William  M.  Calder. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  29 


THE  MORAL  VALUE  OF  THE  INDIVIDUALLY 
OWNED  HOME 

By  Dr.  John  M.  Vander  Muelen,  D.  D., 
Pastor,  Oak  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  Oak  Park,  111. 

In  one  of  Billy  Sunday's  splendid  perorations  he  tells  us  of  an 
American,  not  very  famous,  whose  remains  were  brought  here  in  1883 
from  Tunis,  Africa.  He  had  been  an  actor  and  a  playwright  in  his 
day,  but  all  that  he  had  done  in  that  line  had  been  forgotten.  He 
wrote  a  number  of  poems,  but  you  will  scarcely  find  them  on  any  of 
the  shelves  of  the  libraries  that  you  know.  He  was  appointed  Consul 
to  Tunis,  but  won  no  distinction  there.  Yet  in  the  year  1883  this  Gov- 
ernment, because  of  the  sentiment  of  this  great  American  people,  sent 
for  liis  body,  big  guns  were  fired  as  the  body  came  into  New  York  upon 
the  ship  that  had  been  sent  for  it,  he  lay  in  state  in  Washington,  great 
orators  spoke  their  tribute  over  him  and  people  stood  with  their  heads 
bared  as  his  coffin  passed  by. 

If  you  ask  what  conquests  he  had  won,  there  are  none ;  what  great 
book  he  had  written,  none;  what  great  policy  of  statesmanship  he  had 
evolved,  none;  what  great  scientific  experiment  and  achievement  he 
had  wrought,  none;  what  great  discovery  he  had  made,  none;  why  was 
it  that  over  all  this  country  men  stood  with  reverent  hearts  as  his  body 
was  laid  in  the  grave?  It  was  just  because  he  had  once  written  a  song 
that  touched  the  heart  and  the  man  who  can  do  that  does  a  great  thing. 

And  this  was  the  song.  I  will  read  only  a  verse  or  two  of  it.  You 
may  not  remember  it  all  or  know  it  all,  but  these  verses  you  will 
probably  know. 

'Mid  pleasures  and  palaces  though  we  may  roam. 

Be  it  ever  so  humble,  there's  no  place  like  home; 

A  charm  from  the  skies  seems  to  hallow  us  there 

Which,  seek  through  the  world,  is  ne'er  met  with  elsewhere. 

Home,   home,    sweet,    sweet   home. 
Be  it  ever  so  humble 

There's    no    place    like    home. 
An  exile  from  home,   splendor  dazzles  in  vain; 
Oh,   give  me  my  lowly  thatched  cottage  again; 
The  birds  singing  gaily,  that  came  at  my  call. 
Give  these  with  sweet  peace  of  mind,  dearer  than  all. 

Home,   home,   sweet,    sweet   home. 
Be  it  ever  so  humble 

There's    no    place    like    home. 

I  want  to  ask  whether  that  sentiment  has  grown  stronger  in  our 
American  life  or  less  strong?  It  is  my  conviction  that  it  has  grown 
less  strong,  and  I  want  to  defy  you — because  I  may  say  in  advance  that 
I  want  to  make  a  contrast  this  afternoon  between  the  individually  owned 
home  and  the  apartment  house — I  want  to  defy  you  to  translate  the 
sentiment  of  that  song  into  terms  of  the  apartment  house. 

I  suppose  that  there  are  two  elements  which  are  implied  always  in 
our  thought  of  a  home,  although  they  may  not  be  exactly  in  the  defini- 
tion.    One  is  that  as  the  dictionary  says,  it  must  be  a  fixed  place  of 


30  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

abode.  An  apartment  house  isn't  that  and  so  you  can't  translate  that 
sentiment  into  it.  Let  me  try.  Instead  of  saying  ''Home,  home,  sweet 
home.  Be  it  ever  so  humble  there's  no  place  like  home,"  let's  sing  a 
song  to  the  apartment. 

To  movies  with  autos  though  we  oft  went 
There's  no  place  on  earth  like  our  apartment. 
Rooms,  rooms,  sweet,  sweet  rent. 
There's  no  place  on  earth  like  our  apartment. 

That  doesn't  put  a  choke  in  your  throat,  I  notice,  and  it  doesn't 
bring  a  tear  to  your  eye,  and  if  you'd  say  that  to  your  children,  they'd 
say,  "Daddy,  what  apartment  do  you  mean?  The  one  we  live  in  this 
year  or  the  one  we  lived  in  last  year  or  the  one  we  were  in  five  years 
ago?" 

It  takes  some  measure  of  time  to  cultivate  the  tender  affections 
that  cluster  around  the  word  "Home."  I  think  that  likewise  there  is 
implied  in  this  word  "Home"  the  fact  of  individual  ownership,  for  the 
reason  that  men  change  so  often  is  because  they  don't  have  the  pride 
and  satisfaction  that  comes  from  ownership.  You  and  I  have  all  realized 
that  the  moment  we  own  a  thing  we  take  a  new  interest  in  it.  Suppose 
it  is  a  horse.  You  are  very  critical  of  it  before  you  buy  it,  but  when  you 
have  bought  that  horse,  there's  no  horse  in  all  the  world  like  it.  It's 
the  same  with  an  auto.    Its'  even  the  same  with  a  wife. 

You^  remember  that  Shakespeare  makes  one  of  his  characters  say 
of  his  wife,  "A  homely  thing,  but  all  mine  own,"  and  that  makes  all 
the  difference  in  the  world.  I  think  that  man  felt  that  way  when  he 
said  to  a  man  upon  the  train,  "Who  is  that  homely  woman  sitting  the 
third  row  from  the  back?" 

"That,  sir,  is  my  daughter." 

"Oh,  no,  that  isn't  the  one  I  mean.  She  is  handsome,  but  the  one 
in  front  of  her. ' ' 

"That  is  my  wife,  sir." 

And  then  the  man,  because  he  was  so  tactful,  regained  his  com- 
posure very  quickly  and  said,  "Oh,  that's  nothing;  you  ought  to  see 
mine ! ' ' 

We  take  a  surpassing  pride  and  satisfaction  in  that  which  belongs 
to  us,  no  matter  what  it  is,  and  all  the  pride  and  satisfaction  in  home 
is  lost  when  we  don't  own  our  own  home.  So  when  I  speak  about  the 
moral  value  of  a  home,  I  mean  the  individually  owned  house  that  seems 
to  be  implied  in  the  term,  and  I  want  to  speak  of  three  moral  values 
this  afternoon.  The  first  is  to  the  individual  and  the  family,  the  second 
is  to  the  community,  and  the  third  is  to  the  church.  There  is  a  great 
moral  value  in  the  individually  owned  house  to  the  individual  and  to  the 
family  from  the  standpoint  of  economy.  The  word  "save,"  or  the  con- 
cept that  is  in  it,  is  the  foundation  of  all  religion,  but  it  is  the  foundation 
of  all  business  too ;  and  it  is  of  great  moral  value  to  a  character  just  to 
have  learned  to  save.  The  easiest  way  for  a  man  to  save  is  to  save  for 
a  home. 

It  is  said  that  an  old  farmer  once  went  to  hear  Spurgeon  preach. 
Spurgeon  was  preaching  upon  "Money."     The  old  farmer,  who  had 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  31 

been  induced  to  go  to  church  to  hear  him,  was  greatly  edified  by  that 
sermon,  for  the  first  point  Mr.  Spurgeon  made  was  ''Make  all  you  can." 
The  old  farmer,  somewhat  of  a  miser  in  nature,  rubbed  his  hands  in 
satisfaction  and  said,  "What  a  wonderful  sermon!  Was  there  ever  a 
sermon  preached  like  that?" 

Then  as  Spurgeon  went  on,  he  came  to  the  second  point  and  that 
was,  "Save  all  you  can."  Then  the  old  farmer  could  hardly  keep  his 
seat  he  was  so  enthusiastic.  He  said,  "I  never  heard  preaching  in  all 
my  life  like  that!" 

Then  Spurgeon  came  to  the  third  point  and  that  was,  "Give  all  you 
can,"  and  the  old' man  said,  "Oh,  dear!  Oh,  dear!  Now  he's  gone 
and  spoiled  it  all." 

There  is  a  great  value  in  making  all  we  can  but  we  Americans 
don't  need  to  emphasize  that.  There  is  a  still  greater  moral  value,  I 
am  sure,  in  giving  all  we  can  but  I  question  whether  we  in  America 
need  in  this  day  to  emphasize  that  very  much.  But  there  is  one  thing 
surely  which  America  needs  to  have  emphasized  today  and  that  is  the 
moral  value  of  saving  all  we  can.  I  sometimes  have  seen  the  miser's 
character  belittled  in  behalf  of  the  spendthrift's  and  perhaps  the  spend- 
thrift is  a  better  fellow  to  deal  with  than  the  miser.  I  am  not  sure, 
for  I  am  somewhat  convinced  that  the  selfishness  of  the  one  matches 
the  selfishness  of  the  other.  But  however  that  may  be  true,  America 
is  in  no  danger  of  being  miserly.  The  one  great  danger  of  America 
today  is  that  she  will  be  a  spendthrift. 

The  easiest  thing  for  which  a  man  can  be  appealed  to  in  the  way  of 
saving  is  just  to  own  his  own  home.  All  the  interests  of  beauty  and  of 
love  center  around  the  home  and  a  man  will  save  for  that  when  he 
will  save  for  nothing  else.    So,  it  will  go  into  the  making  of  his  character. 

The  second  moral  value  of  an  individually  owned  home  is  a  sense 
of  responsibility.  Professor  Seeley  in  his  book  on  ' '  School  Management '  * 
compares  the  boy  who  comes  from  the  country  with  the  boy  who  comes 
from  the  city  in  favor  of  the  former,  and  he  thinks  the  reason  that  so 
many  great  characters  have  come  from  the  country  in  this  nation  of  ours 
is  because  of  that  sense  of  responsibility, — the  little  chores  that  the  boys 
in  the  country  must  do,  the  keeping  of  his  pet  animals  and  one  thing 
and  another.  But  it  is  especially  true  when  you  compare  that  boy  from 
the  country  with  the  boy  who  grows  up  in  an  apartment  rather  than  a 
home.  :    !]:tlSI 

There  are  no  furnaces  for  the  boy  in  an  apartment  to  tend.  There 
are  no  walks  to  be  swept,  no  garden  to  beautify.  There  are  no  cares 
of  the  home  that  devolve  upon  him.  This  carefree  sort  of  life  never 
develops  character.  Men  are  developed  by  responsibility,  and  when  a 
man  owns  his  home,  both  he  and  his  boy  learn  something  from  it. 

It  seems  to  me  that  the  third  moral  value  of  the  individually  owned 
home  for  the  family  is  in  the  effect  it  has  upon  our  affections.  A  man 
that  has  something  to  do  with  the  enlargement  of  the  affections  and 
cares  of  the  human  heart  does  a  great  thing  for  mankind.  The  editor 
of  the  Independent  said  sometime  ago  that  the  dweller  in  an  apartment 
house  did  not  make  deep  and  lasting  friendships  with  the  neighbors. 
He  moves  too  easily ;  old  friends  are  forgotten,  new  acquaintances  never 


32  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

or  seldom  ripen  into  those  true  friendships  that  can  come  only  through 
the  years.  I  believe  that  the  editor  of  the  Independent  was  right.  But 
he  said  that  he  didn't  think  the  purity  and  strength  of  character  was 
impaired  by  dwelling  in  an  apartment  house ;  that  only  the  neighborhood 
dwindles.  In  that  respect  I  believe  that  the  editor  is  wrong.  He  is 
first  of  all  wrong  when  it  comes  to  the  homes  of  the  poor.  ''I  never 
wanted  anything  in  those  houses,"  a  woman  said  in  Isabelle  Horton's 
book  on  ''The  Burden  of  the  Great  City;"  ''I  never  envied  anything 
in  those  houses  but  the  room.  From  childhood  on  I  never  had  enough 
room.  I  believe  we  of  the  poor  could  love  each  other  more  if  we  had 
more  room.  There  were  so  few  beds  that  one  of  us  always  had  to  sleep 
at  the  foot,  and  I  remember  when  I  was  a  little  one  and  I  had  to 
sleep  at  the  foot  how  I  dreaded  the  inevitable  kick  that  was  coming 
during  the  night  and  how  I  would  jump  when  it  came.  I  believe  we 
poor  people  would  love  each  other  more  if  we  only  had  more  room." 

Benjamin  Rosenthal,  in  a  speech  made  here  in  Chicago  last  month, 
gave  some  descriptions  of  some  terrible  housing  conditions  among  the 
poor  in  this  great  city  of  ours,  and  he  said  that  you  can  no  more  expect 
chastity  to  come  out  of  those  houses  than  you  could  expect  perfume  to 
come  out  of  a  garbage  pail,  that  it  just  isn't  possible  for  a  man  to  be 
clean  and  bring  up  his  family  clean  in  a  sexual  way  where  people  are 
crowded  like  they  are  in  these  tenements.  I  believe  this  is  not  merely 
true  of  the  poor  people  but  it  is  true  of  the  middle  class — that  the 
individually  owned  home  tends  to  the  promotion  of  all  that  is  good  in 
family  life. 

The  apartment  house  stands,  first  of  all,  for  the  production  of  that 
which  Theodore  Roosevelt  so  much  feared,  and  that  is  race  suicide.  I 
think  that  I  belong  to  the  middle  class  and  I  remember  that  when  our 
baby  was  born  we  lived  in  an  apartment  house.  We  were  in  a  three- 
story  apartment  house.  There  were  no  elevators  in  it.  My  wif e  wasn 't  a 
very  strong  woman  and  we  used  to  put  the  baby  carriage  in  a  place 
under  the  stairs  out  of  the  way  in  the  front  hall  until  the  people  down- 
stairs complained  that  they  didn't  want  to  see  a  baby  cab  there.  So 
we  had  to  take  it  upstairs,  with  the  result  that  the  baby  wasn 't  taken  out 
so  often. 

After  awhile  the  little  fellow  grew  and  had  one  of  these  kiddie-cars, 
and  his  great  delight  was  to  ride  from  the  sitting  room  into  the  kitchen 
and  back  again,  until  the  people  downstairs  complained,  and  he  couldn't 
ride  in  his  kiddie-car  any  more. 

At  night  sometimes,  and  sometimes  in  the  daytime,  we  had  to  dis- 
cipline him.  Solomon  said,  ''Spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child.'  But 
Solomon  never  lived  in  an  apartment  house  for  as  soon  as  you  discipline 
a  child  in  an  apartment  house,  you're  going  to  hear  from  the  neighbors. 

So,  all  the  crowding  of  neighbors  in  an  apartment  house  goes  to 
destroy  the  power  that  a  man  has  to  run  his  own  home  in  the  way  that 
he  wants  to  run  it,  and  in  these  and  in  very  many  other  ways  you  have 
a  destruction  of  moral  values.  All  these  tender  sentiments  of  our  hearts 
cluster  about  a  place  where  our  father  and  mother  have  lived  and  we 
have  lived  steadily  through  the  years  of  boyhood.  I  go  back  to  my 
old  boyhood  days  in  Michigan  and  there's  the  old  home — the  old  home 
where  I  can  remember  this  and  that  little  scene — the  place  where  I  can 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  33 

remember  my  mother  once  saved  the  life  of  my  sister,  the  place  where 
she  lived  herself  down  and  died  in  the  old  home,  and  the  tender  farewells 
that  she  spoke,  and  those  memories  not  merely  cluster  around  the  woman, 
my  mother,  but  around  that  home,  too. 

I  remember  that  some  years  ago  I  went  to  deliver  a  baccalaureate 
address  in  Washington  &  Lee  University.  I  Avas  put  in  the  home  occu- 
pied by  General  Robert  E.  Lee.  I  slept  in  the  bedroom  in  which  he 
slept  and  I  went  into  the  stall  of  Traveler  (which  still  stands  there)  — 
the  great  horse  upon  which  he  rode.  I  put  my  hand  in  Traveler's 
manger.  I  sat  down  at  the  desk  in  General  Lee's  old  room  and  wrote 
a  letter  to  my  boy.  All  the  associations  clustered  around  that  home. 
We  make  voyages  to  the  home  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  place  is  still 
there  that  makes  him  still  dearer. 

How  many  a  lad  has  come  back  from  his  wanderings  tied  to  the 
memory  of  his  old  home  and  his  mother?  Why,  if  the  Prodigal  Son 
had  lived  in  this  day  and  age  and  he  had  said,  "I  will  arise  and  go 
to  my  father,"  he  wouldn't  have  known  in  what  apartment  house  he 
could  have  found  him ! 

There  is  a  moral  value  in  the  individually  owned  home  not  only 
to  the  family  and  to  the  individual  but  to  the  community.  I  want  to  lay 
this  down  as  a  fundamental  proposition — that  the  interests  of  every 
community  depend  upon  the  responsibility  and  the  love  and  the  interest 
of  the  members  of  that  community  itself.  It  is  true  first  of  all  in  a 
material  way.  People  from  the  outside  with  capital  may  come  to  pro- 
mote the  community  but  it  can't  last  long  if  that  community  allows  its 
public  highways  and  its  buildings  to  go  to  rack  and  ruin,  to  run  down 
at  the  heels.  If  it  isn't  interested  in  th^  material  welfare  of  its  own 
community,  it  isn't  going  to  attract  capital  there  any  more.  It's  going 
to  go  down  materially,  it's  going  to  go  down  in  an  educational  way. 

Over  in  Oak  Park,  the  community  from  which  I  come,  a  village 
of  about  30,000,  we  have  one  of  the  best  superintendents  of  schools 
in  the  whole  country,  but  there  are  political  influences  out  to  put  him 
out  today.  Are  we  going  to  hold  him?  That  will  depend  upon  the  in- 
terest which  the  right-minded  people  of  Oak  Park  take  in  their  school 
system. 

It  is  just  so  with  morals,  too.  Whether  there  are  going  to  be  any 
places  of  immorality,  any  subtle  institutions  of  immorality,  like  many 
of  the  moving  picture  shows,  to  deteriorate  the  morals  of  our  boys  and 
girls  of  Oak  Park,  depends  upon  the  citizens  themselves  and  the  interest 
they  take  in  it — nobody  else.  I  want  to  ask  whether  it  is  possible 
that  people  who  live  in  an  apartment  house  should  take  the  same  interest 
in  their  communities  in  any  one  of  these  waj^s  that  the  people  do  who 
own  their  own  homes? 

The  Saviour  once  said,  *' Where  a  man's  treasure  is,  there  will  his 
heart  be  also,"  and  every  renter  of  every  apartment  in  Oak  Park 
knows  that  if  the  conditions  are  such  that  he  doesn't  like  them  any 
more,  he  can  easily  pick  up  and  move  out.  That  is  why,  in  the  words 
of  Otto  W.  Davis,  Secretary  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  Minne- 
apolis, every  apartment  neighborhood  in  every  city  tends  in  the  course 
of  time  to  become  a  tenement  neighborhood. 


34  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

It  is  true  also  of  Americanism,  that  if  we  can  produce  individually 
owned  homes  we  are  going  to  get  rid  of  bolshevism. 

I  want  to  quote  further  from  what  Mr.  Rosenthal  said  in  the 
speech  to  which  I  have  already  referred.  He  said,  **You  wonder  why 
we  have  our  appalling  labor  turnover.  That  question  is  easy  of  solu- 
tion. What  incentive  do  you  give  to  that  man  who  works  hard  all 
day,  who,  when  he  has  finished  his  work  at  night,  goes  home  and  finds 
nothing  but  squalor  and  dirt  and  noise  ?  Naturally,  he  soon  becomes 
indifferent,  his  efficiency  wanes,  he  is  not  anchored,  he  doesn't  own  his 
own  home  and  then  he  drifts  away.  That  is  why  you  have  this  labor 
turnover. ' ' 

Think  what  it  would  mean  to  these  workmen  if  they  owned  their 
own  homes.  They  have  that  same  yearning  to  own  the  roof  over  the 
heads  of  their  families  that  is  in  your  heart  and  my  heart.  The  sense 
of  proprietorship  that  comes  in  the  owning  of  a  home  forestalls  the 
danger  of  the  red  flag  of  bolshevism.  Instead  of  building  up  bolshevists 
as  we  are  doing  today,  if  you  could  give  laboring  men  their  own  home 
you  would  be  manufacturing  a  class  of  citizens  that  would  be  fighting 
not  for  our  country  but  for  the  preservation  of  our  homes  and  of  his 
own  home,  too. 

In  the  brave  hymn  of  Marco  Bozarris  that  we  used  to  declaim  so 
eloquently  in  our  youth  was  this  call  to  arms: 

' '  Strike  for  your  altars  and  your  fires. 
Strike  for  the  green  graves  of  your  sires, 
God,  and  your  native  land." 

But  you  know,  in  an  apartment  house  we  haven't  any  fires  to  strike 
for  and  the  green  graves  of  our  sires  are  away  over  in  some  other  com- 
munity, and  when  a  man  hasn't  any  fires  nor  any  green  graves  of  his 
sires,  his  sense  of  patriotism  is  impoverished.  You  give  a  man  a  home 
and  he  knows  what  his  country  stands  for.  It  stands  for  that  home 
and  the  home  stands  for  his  country  and  he  is  a  new  patriot. 

Last  of  all,  the  individually  owned  home  has  a  great  moral  value 
for  the  church.  I  am  sure  that  you  men  believe  in  the  church.  I  don't 
see  how  you  can  help  it  since  the  great  authorities  in  business  believe 
in  it.  I  have  here  a  pamphlet  by  a  great  authority  in  business  whose 
name  you  all  know,  Roger  W.  Babson.  I  suppose  that  some  of  you 
have  read  his  report  of  last  January  27th.  I  just  want  to  read  two 
or  three  sentences  of  it.  He  says,  ''What  is  our  real  security  for  the 
stocks,  bonds,  mortgages,  deeds  and  other  investments  which  w^e  own?" 
And  then  he  goes  on  to  say,  after  the  discussion,  ''It  means  that  the 
real  security  for  the  stocks,  bonds,  mortgages,  deeds  and  other  invest- 
ments which  we  own  is  the  integrity  of  the  community.  The  steel  boxes, 
the  legal  papers  and  the  other  things  which  we  look  upon  as  so  important 
are  the  mere  shells  of  the  eergs.  The  value  of  our  investments  depends 
not  on  the  strength  of  our  banks  but  rather  upon  the  strength  of  our 
churches."  Then  he  closes  with  this  exhortation — "For  our  owti  sake, 
for  our  children's  sake,  for  the  nation's  sake,  let  us  business  men 
get  behind  the  churches  and  their  preachers.  Never  mind  if  their  the- 
ology is  out  of  date;  that  only  means  that  were  they  efficient  they 
would  do  very  much  more.     The  safety  of  all  we  have  is  due  to  the 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  35 

churches,  even  in  their  present  inefficient  and  inactive  state.  By  all  that 
we  hold  dear,  let  us  from  this  very  day  give  more  time,  money  and 
thought  to  the  interests  of  our  city,  for  upon  these  the  value  of  all  we 
own  ultimately  depends. ' ' 

Theodore  Roosevelt  gave  nine  reasons  for  going  to  church.  The 
first  one  was  that  he  said  in  this  world  of  ours  the  community  that  has 
let  its  religious  interests  lag,  that  has  scoffed  or  become  indifferent,  is, 
he  said,  a  rapidly  declining  community. 

The  apartment  house  has  a  great  effect  upon  church  life  and  I  can 
illustrate  that  in  a  very  easy  way.  Not  very  long  ago  one  of  the  best 
workers  in  my  church  (I  had  appointed  a  number  of  them  for  a  new 
job)  wasn't  doing  the  work  as  faithfully  and  efficiently  as  was  his  wont. 
I  couldn't  understand  it.  He  was  one  of  the  most  conscientious  and 
consecrated  workers  in  the  church.  I  went  the  other  day  to  his  home 
and  found  he  had  sold  his  house  and  was  thinking  of  moving.  He 
didn't  know  whether  he  would  ever  be  in  Oak  Park  any  more.  Some 
day  he  will  pick  up  that  interest  again  when  he  knows  where  he  is 
going  to  be  permanently  but  for  the  present  he  has  lost  his  interest. 

For  three  years  I  was  the  pastor  of  a  church  in  New  York  City 
where  we  had  scarcely  any  but  apartment  house  dwellers.  Every  sum- 
mer when  I  came  back  from  my  vacation,  I'd  see  a  goodly  percentage 
of  my  flock  gone.  I'd  have  to  break  in  a  new  set  again.  But  the 
folks  would  tell  me  that  they  didn't  want  to  identify  themselves  with 
any  church  because  they  didn  't  know  whether  they  'd  be  there  this 
year  or  next  year,  and  so  they  got  to  drifting,  postponing  that  import- 
ant relation  until  at  last  it  had  perished  out  of  their  lives  altogether. 
Meanwhile  the  church  from  which  they  had  come  had  lost  a  member 
and  the  church  in  the  neighborhood  to  which  they  had  moved  had  gained 
none. 

The  church  has  a  very  great  interest  in  this  matter.  I  just  want 
to  say  this  in  conclusion,  that  in  this  day  and  age  of  ours,  the  individual 
isn't  smarter  than  he  was  in  any  other  day.  Professor  De  Quatrefages 
says  that  the  skulls  of  the  past  show  that  the  average  Athenian  was  as 
much  more  keen  and  brilliant  intellectually  than  we  are  as  the  average 
American  is  more  keen  and  briUiant  than  the  African  negro.  But  in 
one  respect  we  have  put  it  all  over  the  past  and  that  is  in  the  power  to 
do  things  cooperatively;  in  the  exemplification  of  the  principle  that  in 
unity  there  is  strength. 

For  the  sake  of  America  and  of  all  the  things  that  are  best  in 
America,  that  company  of  men  do  a  great,  patriotic  thing,  as  great  as 
the  abolition  of  the  liquor  traffic  or  the  abolition  of  militarism,  who  make 
it  possible  for  men,  citizens  of  this  country,  to  own  their  own  homes.  I 
give  you  this  poem  of  Victor  Starbuck's  as  an  inspiration  and  a 
prophesy : 

"We  have  molded  for  ourselves  telegraphs  and  tunnels, 

Builded  bridge  and  barrack-room,  derrick,  dock  and  gun; 
But  for  love  of  women  we  have  builded  little  houses, 

Pleasant  in  the  shadows  and  peaceful  in  the  sun. 
All  the  wide  world  over  there  are  little  houses, 

Silent  in  the  starlight,  shining  in  the  dew; 
There  with  children's  laughter  and  the  loving  hearts  of  women, 

God,  the  mighty  Builder,  builds  the  world  anew." 


36 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


^^mm 


Residence  of  Fred  Evans  at  Newark,  Ohio.     A  pleasing  example  of  individuality  of  reinforced 

concrete  for  residences. 


Refined   elegance,   permanence    and   adaptability   of   concrete   is   presented   in   this   residence   of 
Ernst  Venn  at  Detroit,  Mich. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  87 

CONCRETE  HOUSING 

By  Irving  K.  Pond,  Architect,  Chicago. 

I  have  written  so  much  abstractly  on  architecture  and  architectural 
principles  that  it  is  good  again  to  get  down  to  hard  and  fast  matters 
and  fix  my  hypotheses  in  the  concrete.  I  say  "again,"  for  many  years 
ago,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Allied  Arts  of  the  American 
Institute  of  Architects  I  was  the  author  of  a  widely  circulated  report  of 
that  Committee  dealing  with  concrete  as  a  medium  of  architectural 
expression.  I  have  had  but  slight  occasion  to  put  into  practice  the 
theories  I  then  advanced,  but  I  have  continued  to  hold,  and  still  main- 
tain them. 

Since  that  time  the  use  of  concrete  in  building  operations  has  grown 
apace  and  enthusiasts  and  specialists  have  arisen  to  scatter  their  words 
and  their  works  broadcast,  sometimes,  though  not  always,  the  words 
being  more  attractive  than  the  works — sometimes  the  words  and  works 
alike  bordering  on  the  atrocious — as  for  instance  when  the  beauties  of 
cast  rock-faced-concrete  block  have  been  urged  and  the  monstrosities 
themselves  have  made  pitiable  what  otherwise  might  have  been  semi- 
respectable  structures — ''semi,"  mind  you,  not  ''wholly"  respectable; 
for  the  taste  which  could  advocate,  and  incorporate  into  its  product, 
such  base  imitations  could  not  create  or  fashion  a  thoroughly  respectable 
structure. 

Some  two  years  ago  while  acting  as  chairman  of  a  board  to  adjust 
and  settle  perchance,  jurisdictional  differences  between  the  carpenters, 
the  architectural  iron  workers  and  the  sheet  metal  workers  of  Chicago, 
I  suggested  facetiously  that  the  fabricators  of  imitations  should  be 
penalized  by  giving  over  to  the  trades  whose  products  were  imitated  the 
erection  of  all  such  imitations.  Thus  stone  masons  should  erect  all  tin 
fabrications  simulating  stone  cornices,  architraves  or  entablatures;  and 
do  plastering  where  plaster  simulated  Caen  stone — one  might  put  it 
"con"  stone — on  walls  and  in  vaulted  ceilings.  My  pleasantry  was  met 
with  hearty  and  strenuous  disapprobation,  each  trade  wanted  to  tell  its 
own  little  lie  and  to  reap  the  benefits  which  each  felt  certain  would 
accrue  to  it  in  a  world  so  slightly  endowed  with  the  elements  of  sincerity 
or  of  good  taste. 

So  my  first  item  of  advice,  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  offer  advice  to  a 
body  of  men  interested  in  the  development  or  handling  of  a  compara- 
tively new  and  altogether  worthy  building  material,  is  to  treat  the 
product  with  respect,  to  shun  and  scorn  imitations,  to  recognize  limita- 
tions, which  attach  to  all  materials,  as  well  as  to  all  men,  and  to  work 
within  those  limitations.  This  is  not  saying  that  because  a  thing  has 
been  done,  and  frequently  and  appropriately  done,  in  one  material  it 
shall  not  be  done  in  another  or  a  new  material  which  may  be  employed 
with  equal  propriety;  however,  the  new  material  should  not  employ 
forms  which  are  purely  distinctive  of  the  old,  but  should  develop  forms 
which  inherently  characterize  the  new. 

What  these  characteristic  forms  may  be  is  a  subject  for  very  search- 


38  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

ing  study  and  analysis.  Possibly  through  synthesis  rather  than  analysis 
will  the  characteristic  forms  disclose  themselves.  So  was  it  in  the  past 
with  the  old  materials — so  probably  will  it  be  with  the  new. 

Now  concrete  is  a  material  which  lends  itself  to  many  kinds  of 
manipulation.  It  can  be  cast,  pressed,  assembled  in  the  shop  or  on  the 
job.  So  many  are  the  possible  methods  of  its  application — such  a 
diversity  of  means  may  be  employed  toward  its  legitimate  ends — that 
some  of  its  enthusiastic  sponsors  see  in  it  a  panacea  for  structural  ills 
and  possibly  for  aesthetic  building  ills,  a  substitute  for  all  previously 
employed  building  materials — excepting,  possibly,  door  hinges — and  a 
perfect  end  in  itself. 

It  behooves  those  who  can  impartially  survey  the  entire  field  to 
offer  both  warning  and  encouragement — encouragement  in  its  legitimate 
use,  warning  against  its  too  free  employment,  especially  where  other 
materials  may  better  serve  the  conditions.  The  economics  of  the  general 
situation  favor  concrete,  and  through  this  factor  alone  there  may  arise 
a  tendency  toward  its  too  general  employment;  toward  its  substitution 
for  other  materials  which,  though  perhaps  costing  more  in  mere  money 
satisfy  the  senses  and  better  fulfil  geographic  and  climatic  conditions. 
The  cheapness  and  ease  of  casting  a  flat  slab  of  concrete  has  led  certain 
enthusiasts  to  advocate  the  general  adoption  of  a  flat  slab  type  of  roof 
in  any  and  all  parts  of  the  country.  It  is  advocated  for  a  northern 
climate  because  it  can  very  cheaply  be  made  strong  enough  to  hold  a 
load  of  snow  and  ice.  But  that  is  not  what  a  roof  is  for,  it  is  to  shed 
snow  and  ice.  The  flat  slab  roof  is  advocated  for  a  southern  climate 
because  the  overhang  or  shade  is  so  cheaply  procured.  The  shade  is 
desired  but  not  at  the  expense  of  ugliness  which  results  from  unembel- 
lished  overhangs — and  concrete  embellishments  are  expensive.  The 
factors  of  ease  and  economy  in  manufacturing  concrete  slabs,  whether 
to  be  applied  vertically  or  horizontally,  contributes  to  a  ''simplicity" 
which  tends  toward  stupidity  and  to  a  barrenness  which  begets  ugliness. 
Where  the  general  form  is  stupid  and  ugly  not  much  in  the  way  of 
reclamation  can  be  effected  by  proportioning  of  windows  or  application 
of  superficial  ornament.  If  the  mass  is  interesting  and  appropriately 
conditioned,  geographically  and  climatically,  slight  defects  in  details 
will  not  too  seriously  challenge  the  taste ;  but  an  ugly  mass  is  fatal. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  learned  ones  will  point  out  that  con- 
crete was  a  favorite  building  material  with  the  ancient  Romans,  and 
that  traces  of  it  are  found  attaching  to  Greece,  Egypt  and  the  ancient 
Orient,  concrete  as  employed  by  modern  Americans  is  a  new  material, 
the  science  and  art  relating  to  which  are  not  fully  developed. 

Much  has  been  done  to  satisfy  the  conditions  of  its  employment; 
much  more  remains  to  be  done.  The  newness  of  an  art,  or  the  sus- 
pected newness  of  an  art,  is  a  sufficient  cause  for  criticism  or  antagonism 
in  the  average  American  eye.  We  are  the  most  conservative  people  on 
the  face  of  the  earth  as  regards  art  and  the  arts.  We  will  not  accept 
materials  and  methods  on  their  merits  and  attempt  to  develop  their 
intrinsic  qualities  or  worth.  Art  is  about  the  only  line  along  which  we 
are  conservative,  however ;  that  is,  we  conserve  very  little  along  material 
lines — and  we  do  sling  dead  art  about  recklessly  and  embalm  its  forms 
in  lasting  and  eternally  reinforced  concrete  in  which  they  appear  more 


02f  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  39 

dead  than  heretofore  conceivable.  The  fact  that  they  are  embalmed  in 
a  vital  and  vigorous  material  emphasizes  the  fact  of  death.  There  are 
those  who  claim  that  these  dead  forms  are  alive — but  only  to  the  dead 
do  the  dead  live !  Concrete  is  a  vital  material  full  of  character — let  us 
give  it  its  vital  forms. 

Because  concrete  has  for  so  long  been  placed  into  moulds  or  forms 
and  because  of  the  coarseness  of  some  of  its  ingredients,  one  of  which 
was  stone  which  could  go  through  a  two-inch  ring,  the  earlier  designers 
(and  I  fear  there  were  architects  among  them),  being  dependent  upon 
precedent,  and  knowing  not  where  else  to  look,  fell  upon  the  crude 
Spanish  detail  and  broad  masses  of  the  early  Spanish  Missions  as  repre- 
sentative of  what  best  might  be  embalmed  in  concrete.  And  so  Spanish 
missions  distorted  into  bungalows  and  cottages  and  palaces  spread  like 
a  rash  over  the  face  of  the  country.  As  technical  and  mechanical  diffi- 
culties were  overcome  and  processes  refined  the  rash  itched  to  take  an- 
other form  of  disease  and  turned  into  a  classic  fever,  with  now  and  then 
a  touch  of  Gothic  ''pains"  were  noted  particularly  in  the  traceries  on 
solids  and  in  voids.  The  fever  still  burns,  the  pains  still  grip.  Expen- 
sive forms  are  built  up  and  destroyed  to  produce  effects  which  already, 
ad  infinitum,  ad  nauseam,  have  been  better  achieved  in  stone.  However, 
this  is  not  always  to  be. 

The  waste  entailed  in  the  destruction  of  specially  constructed  and 
expensive  forms  has  become  apparent  to  many  concrete  users  and 
exploiters,  and  their  efforts  to  prevent  the  consequent  loss,  especially 
in  case  of  the  smaller  residences  and  the  houses  with  which  this  Con- 
ference is  more  particularly  concerning  itself,  has  introduced  an  element 
which  may  well  call  for  restraint  in  its  application.  For  the  sake  of 
economy  forms  are  reused.  When  such  forms  are  not  perfect  in  them- 
selves and  in  utmost  good  taste,  monotony  in  repetition  becomes  deadly, 
and  woe  to  him  whom  cruel  fate  has  condemned  to  inhabit  a  unit  in  an 
environment  so  constituted.  Life  and  joy  and  self-respect  must  be 
absent  from  the  dweller  amid  such  surroundings.  Even  where  the 
forms  are  charming  and  singly  in  good  taste,  repetition  robs  them  of 
individuality  and  unfits  them  for  occupancy  by  anyone  possessed  of 
character  and  personality.  Individuality  of  character  and  personality 
are  absolutely  necessary  in  the  units  which  go  to  make  up  to  the  mass  of 
a  civilized  and  self-respecting  society. 

Consequently  another  injunction,  which  I  offer  by  way  of  advice, 
is  to  avoid  wastage  of  forms — ^but  even  more  to  avoid  the  monotony 
which  must  follow  the  unrestrained  employment  of  any  ''motif,''  ugly 
or  charming.  Introduce  spice  into  life  in  the  way  of  variety.  The  prin- 
ciple underlying  this  admonition  is  just  as  applicable  to  a  mill  town  as 
it  is  to  the  most  highly  developed  suburb.  In  point  of  fact  little  or  no 
distinction  should  be  drawn  between  the  mill  town  and  the  " swell'' 
suburb.  It  should  exist  possibly  only  in  the  size  of  units;  it  should 
not  exist  in  the  expression  of  good  taste  and  mental  and  bodily  comfort. 
Perhaps  I  am  getting  ahead  of  the  age  and  of  the  present  topic.  I  hope 
not. 

In  spite  of  the  manifold  and  varied  means,  methods,  processes, 
applications,  manipulations — textures,  surfaces  and  colors  appertaining 
to  the  use  and  employment  of  concrete  as  a  medium  of  architectural 


40 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


f^^.. 


-II  J 


11^    iinfii 


Residence  of  William  A.   Boring,  New  Canaan,  Conn.     Morrill  System  forms  were  used  in 

constructing  this  substantial  home. 


A  reinforced  concrete  house  at  Alton  Beach,  Florida.     The  stucco  finish  provides  an  exterior 
wall  surface  of  pleasing  appearance. 


01^  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  41 

expression  and  embodiment,  I  am  not  certain  that  I  should  advise  its 
sole  and  unlimited  agency  in  housing  the  activities  of  any  one  neighbor- 
hood or  community.  Indeed  I  am  quite  certain  that  I  should  not  so 
advise;  and  this  not  altogether  on  the  ground  of  a  needed  variety,  but 
that  there  are  other  materials  which  transcend  even  concrete  as  a  medium 
of  certain  desired  expressions  of  the  human  spirit  in  the  art  of  architec- 
ture. And  I  should  desire  to  see  no  community  curtailed  of,  or  denied, 
the  right  and  power  to  express  the  best  that  is  in  it  in  the  materials  best 
adapted  to  that  expression.  Thus  marble,  granite,  iron,  bronze,  brick, 
slate,  each  possess  inherent  qualities  or  characteristics  not  translatable 
into  concrete  even  through  the  agency  of  base  and  artificial  imitation. 
In  the  matter  of  brick,  for  example,  there  is  scale  to  the  unit  which 
relates  the  mass  to  human  desire  and  experience  in  an  intimacy  possible 
with  no  other  material,  while  in  natural  color  and  texture  the  range  is 
boundless.  But,  even  with  all  that,  brick  needs  other  materials  in  its 
neighborhood  for  contrast  and  variety,  purple — green  of  slate,  soft  white 
of  stucco,  weathered  grey  of  timber,  with  carvings  and  turnings;  and 
craftsmanship  which  cannot  be  imrparted  by  a  mould  however  exquisitely 
the  surface  be  wrought  by  the  modeler 's  hand. 

I  assume  that  as  an  architect  I  am  expected  to  say  that  the  only 
way  to  make  concrete  an  accredited  and  acceptable  building  material, 
adapted  to  all  human  and  aesthetic  needs,  is  to  have  its  essence  filtered 
through  the  alembic  of  the  architectural  profession,  or  its  representa- 
tives.   If  you  wish  me  to  say  it,  of  course  I  will— with  reservations. 

Now  the  most  stupid  of  anachronisms  are  perpetrated  by  so-called 
architects  (they  really  are  untutored  archaeologists,  or  rather  grave 
robbers)  and  the  most  blatant  of  modernisms,  cut  off  from  all  context 
of  history,  have  emanated  from,  again,  so-called  architects  (they  really 
are  unlettered  sentimentalists).  But  I  will  say  that  the  possibilities  of 
concrete  as  a  medium  of  aesthetic  expression  in  building  may  best  be 
apprehended  by  a  sincere  architect,  with  knowledge  of  modern  social 
conditions  and  tendencies,  working  in  cooperation  with  those  who  know 
the  material  at  first  hand  and  who  also  are  sincerely  working  to  exploit 
nothing,  but  to  develop  the  latent  and  inherent  possibilities  of  a  worthy 
material.  Such  architects  exist,  such  material  men  exist.  They  should 
come  together.  It  should  be  a  function  of  such  conferences  as  this  to 
bring  them  together. 

I  must  say  one  word  here  as  to  what  should  characterize  the  archi- 
tect in  whom  the  material  man  and  the  public  may  well  place  their  con- 
fidence, being  assured  that  his  will  be  leadership — real  leadership  and 
not  selfish  and  autocratic  domination.  That  architect  must  not  exploit 
any  material  or  system  but  must  be  able  to  recognize,  and  free  to  employ 
the  most  effective  and  appropriate  under  the  individual  conditions.  He 
must  sense  the  sociological,  including  social,  the  ethical  and  aesthetic 
tendencies  of  his  time  so  as  to  aid  his  client  in  the  expression  of  them, 
curbing  wasteful,  demoralizing,  disintegrating  tendencies,  and  aiding 
toward  social  unification;  diagnosing  present  conditions  and  meeting 
the  situation  with  skill  and  clarity  of  vision  rather  than  in  applying 
formulae  learned  by  routine  in  the  schools.  The  architect  should  think 
in  advance  of  the  public  and  see  the  goal  and  the  way  thereto  more 
clearly.  Pity  the  public  which  follows,  and  condemn  the  architect  who 
pursues  the  selfish  and  blind  course. 


42  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

Now,  in  so  far  as  this  paper  constitutes  a  report  to  be  discussed  or 
otherwise,  sent  to  oblivion  or  laid  aside  for  future  reference,  which 
amount  to  about  the  same  thing,  its  elements  may  be  summarized  and 
augmented  as  follows: 

Imitations 

Concrete  has  a  character  of  its  own;  there  is  no  call  to  torture  it  into 
imitations  of  stone,  wood,  bronze  or  other  material.  Details  cast  in  moulds 
should  bear  the  plastic  touch  of  the  modeler  and  not  the  chisel  marks  of 
the  sculptor. 

Economy 

Forms  suited  to  the  special  purpose  should  be  used — forms  extrava- 
gant of  labor  and  material  should  be  avoided  and  should  be  employed 
only  where  duplication  can  be  accomplished  without  monotony. 

Monotony 

Even  a  good  thing  ceases  to  be  a  good  thing  when  used  in  excess  and 
two  concrete  houses  from  the  same  forms,  placed  side  by  side,  is  an  excess 
— such  treatment  is  permissible  only  in  barracks  where  men  are  in  uni- 
form and  drilled  into  the  same  line  of  thought,  act  and  movement,  all 
individuality  being  eliminated. 

Slabs 
Plat  slab  roofs  may  at  times  and  in  places  be  appropriate.     A  gen- 
eral use  would  be  deadly  unless  counteracted  by  features  the  initial  ex- 
pense of  which  would  more  than  offset  the  element  of  economy  which 
alone  would  seem  to  call  for  a  wide  prevalence  of  such  roofs. 

Monolithic  Forms 

This  method  presents  advantages  in  certain  types  of  structure.  The 
appearance  of  mass  and  strength  is  enhanced  by  monolithic  treatment. 
Openings  and  corners  can  be  characteristically  and  ornamentally  treated 
at  slight  or  no  additional  expense.  Houses  pre-cast  from  monolithic 
forms  and  transported  as  slabs  or  as  units  are  to  be  looked  upon  with 
suspicion  as  tending  to  create  types  and  general  monotony.  The  Com- 
mittee on  Monolithic  Houses  will  have  more  to  say  on  this  subject. 

Block 

As  units.  Concrete  block  laid  to  be  effective  as  units  may  perform 
a  legitimate  aesthetic  as  well  as  structural  service.  Texture  and  color  can 
be  given  them.  Their  danger  lies  in  exaggerated  scale  and  general  uni- 
foritnity.  Stone  has  the  advantage  of  lending  itself  to  cutting  and  fitting 
in  length  and  height  without  consequent  economic  waste.  The  manufac- 
ture of  concrete  block  should  be  studied  with  variety  of  size  as  well  as 
appropriate  scale  in  mind.  Corners  and  angles  should  be  true,  and  crude 
and  rock  faced  surfaces  avoided. 

Block 

As  hacking  for  stucco.  This  is  a  legitimate  field  for  the  use  of  con- 
crete block.  Scale  need  not  be  taken  into  account;  neither  need  such 
matters  as  sharpness  of  corners  and  angles  or  crudity  of  surface.  Uneven 
chipping  where  blocks  are  cut  approximately  to  the  desired  outline  pre- 
sents no  obstacle  to  the  perfect  finish.  Surfaces  should  be  such  as  to 
which  the  stucco  will  most  readily  adhere. 

Costs  and  Permanence 

In  a  letter  from  an  official  of  the  United  States  Housing  Corporation 
I  find  these  words: 

"We  were  satisfied  that  there  were  certain  types  which  would  pro- 
duce a  good,  practical  house  at  a  very  moderate  cost,  hut  it  appeared  to 
us  that  this  could  he  done  only  where  the  same  unit  was  repeated  in- 
definitely, and  our  helief  was  that  this  would  produce  a  deadly  monot- 
ony:* 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  43 

As  to  the  monotony  we  have  already  heard;  as  to  the  cost  and  permanence 
or  durability  let  me  say  that  there  may  be  cases  where  permanent  houses 
would  be  a  drawback  in  a  developing  community.  There  would  be  very 
little  salvage  in  a  wrecked  concrete  house,  while  the  wrecking  would  entail 
almost  as  much  expense  as  the  constructing.  Unless  a  community  is  well 
"zoned"  buildings  of  a  too  permanent  nature  are  an  economic  waste  even 
though  the  initial  cost  may  be  the  same  as  for  a  building  of  less  per- 
manent character.  Where,  as  in  many  of  our  communities,  change  is  the 
order  of  the  day,  well  constructed  buildings  of  a  more  temporary  nature 
are  desirable.  Buildings  of  a  temporary  nature  can  be  "fire  stopped"  and 
made  safe  for  occupancy. 

Fireproof  Character  of  Concrete  Houses 

In  the  letter  above  referred  to  these  words  appear:  "We  found  that 
the  people  who  were  interested  in  the  concrete  house  were,  almost  without 
exception,  trying  to  build  every  part  of  the  house  in  concrete,  including 
porches  and  all  the  trim."  This  would  seem  to  me  to  indicate  a  deficient 
sense  of  humor  on  the  part  of  the  people  referred  to,  as  well  as  defective 
vision.  I  will  grant  that  the  designs  of  many  architects  who  never  in- 
tended to  make  a  joke  of  their  work  are  such  as  to  be  readily  translated 
into  concrete  and  would  not  lose  in  the  process;  but  a  concrete  man  with 
a  sense  of  fitness,  I'll  call  it  humor,  would  not  design  to  effect  the  transla- 
tion. I  n»ust  still  warn  the  enthusiast  against  excess — excess  of  imagina- 
tion as  well  as  excess  in  material — or  some  of  them  may  wish  to  make  the 
door  hinges  out  of  concrete  after  all!  Fireproof ness,  so  to  speak,  and 
permanence  are  good  qualities,  for  which  it  is  possible  at  times  to  pay 
too  much. 

Methods  and  Means 

How  to  make  the  house  reasonably  fireproof,  reasonably  durable,  rea- 
sonably attractive  and  reasonably  economical  in  cost  and  in  upkeep  pre- 
sents a  series  of  problems  for  the  architect  and  the  concrete  expert.  As 
an  architect  I  shall  receive  the  findings  of  the  concrete  expert  and  will 
make  such  application  of  the  methods  and  means  presented  as  may  suit 
the  particular  case.  I  will  even  present  the  case  beforehand  to  the  expert, 
if  it  is  not  already  covered,  and  aid  him  in  his  solution.  I  will  even  ask 
him  now  to  present  types  of  floors  in  structure  and  finish  which  are  durable, 
economical,  and  appropriate  to  a  small  house.  I  will  ask  the  same  con- 
cerning the  roofs,  high  pitched,  low  pitched  and  flat. 

There  are  many  problems  to  be  solved  in  connection  with  the 
design,  construction  and  location  of  the  concrete  house  and  I  congrat- 
ulate the  concrete  and  cement  interests  that  they  have  enlisted  the 
services  of  so  many  serious  minded  and  enthusiastic  men  in  the  quest 
for  the  best  along  these  lines.  I  hope  that  architects  of  vision  and 
deep  feeling  may  be  called  upon  to  cooperate. 


44  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


RELATION  OF^DESIGN  AND  PUBLIC  TASTE 
TO  THE  HOUSING  PROBLEM 

By  Henry  K.  Holsman,  Architect, 

President,  Illinois  Chapter,  American  Institute  of  Architects, 

Chicago 

Until  recently  we  had  not  been  impressed  by  anything  like  "serv- 
ice" in  the  cement  industry.  Neglect  of  this  important  requirement  in 
the  earlier  days  of  the  industiy  in  this  country  resulted  in  the  appear- 
ance aU  over  the  country  of  what  is  known  as  the  ' '  cement  block  house. ' ' 
Cement  blocks  were  made  of  a  semidry  mixture  of  portland  cement  and 
sand  pressed  into  molds  in  imitation  of  rock  faced  stone  or  common  brick. 
When  this  material  was  forced  upon  the  ultimate  consumer  in  particular 
and  the  public  in  general,  it  created  dissatisfaction  because  of  its  ugly, 
if  not  repulsive  appearance.  This  complaint  must  have  Been  loud  and 
insistent,  though  the  most  potent  objection  was  probably  subconscious. 

Nevertheless,  manufacturers  continued  to  sell  their  cement  to  be 
used  in  this  manner  for  a  long  time.  A  few  years  ago  a  few  men  here 
and  there,  realizing  that  not  what  was  made,  but  how  it  was  made,  was 
the  cause  of  dissatisfaction  and  realizing  the  real  possibilities  of  portland 
cement,  endeavored  to  revive  the  cement  block.  These  men  made  con- 
crete stone  by  a  proper  use  and  proportion  of  cement  and  appropriate 
aggregates,  with  the  fortunate  result  that  we  now  have  on  the  market 
cement  block  and  other  cement  products  that  are  quite  satisfactory  from 
the  structural  and  aesthetic  points  of  view  and  that  fulfill  a  proper  func- 
tion in  the  building  industry.  However,  as  it  is  much  more  difficult 
to  unlearn  or  discard  a  bad  habit  than  it  is  to  learn  or  acquire  a  good  one, 
I  imagine  that  the  cement  industry  finds  that  in  places  it  is  uphill  work 
to  overcome  the  deep  rooted  prejudice  that  the  early  monstrosities  of  so- 
called  cement  block  were  responsible  for. 

When  it  is  realized  that  nearly  everything  in  the  building  and 
construction  line  can  be  made  of  portland  cement  and  that  many  things 
that  are  commonly  made  of  other  material  can  be  made  better  and  more 
economically  with  portland  cement,  it  is  rather  remarkable  that  we  are 
not  farther  along  in  the  use  of  this  wonderful  material  than  we  are  at  the 
present  time.  However,  the  efforts  that  are  now  being  made  by  the 
cement  industry  toward  educating  the  consumer  in  the  right  ways  to  use 
this  material  will,  if  continued  long  enough,  supplant  old  prejudices  by 
developing  intelligent  appreciation  and  thereby  bring  about  great  bene- 
fits to  the  community  and  the  people  at  large. 

Cement  may  be  considered  as  fulfilling  two  chief  functions  in  build- 
ing. It  may  be  used  principally  in  structural  members  or  it  may  be  used 
for  those  other  functions  about  the  building  that  may  be  just  as  useful 
and  should  be  just  as  durable,  and  which  are  more  in  evidence  to  the 
common  observer — the  protective  surface  of  the  exterior,  the  surface  of 
the  floor  and  partitions.  It  may  be  used  to  good  advantage  for  many 
things  now  made  exclusively  of  other  materials.    For  mantel  pieces  it  is 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  45 

undoubtedly  better  than  wood.  In  one  instance  the  writer  had  42,  one- 
piece  Portland  cement  mantels  and  fireplaces  molded  and  set  in  place  in 
the  building  for  $17.50  each.  These  were  good  to  look  upon,  serviceable, 
easily  washed  and  kept  clean  and  required  no  paint.  At  the  same  time 
these  were  installed,  the  cost  of  a  wood  mantel  with  brick  fireplace  and 
tile  facing  finished  in  the  ordinary  manner,  would  have  cost  several  times 
as  much  and  would  have  been  much  less  serviceable. 

Fire-doors  are  made  of  wood  and  covered  with  metal  or  made  of 
metal  alone,  grained  and  varnished  to  imitate  wood,  all  at  considerable 
cost,  and  I  venture  to  predict  that  fire-doors  will  be  made  of  reinforced 
concrete  in  a  manner  to  serve  the  purpose  just  as  well  as  the  present 
types,  if  not  better,  and  at  much  less  cost. 

The  products  that  may  be  made  of  portland  cement  and  used  in 
the  ordinary  building  are  almost  too  numerous  to  mention,  and  the 
cement  industry  can  do  a  great  service  to  itself  and  the  commuity  at 
large  if  it  will  continue  its  wholesale  distribution  of  service. 

There  is,  however,  another  field  in  which  the  industry  as  well  as 
all  other  manufacturers  of  industrial  art  products  could  benefit  them- 
selves and  the  general  public,  and  that  is  in  assisting  to  educate  and  train 
industrial  art  designers,  as  well  as  educating  and  guiding  public  taste. 

European  countries  long  ago  realized  the  fundamental  necessity 
of  training  in  industrial  art.  The  need  for  educating  public  taste  in 
our  schools  and  colleges  is  very  apparent  in  those  industrial  arts,  the 
products  of  which  are  finished  at  the  factory,  but  I  hold  that  the  need 
is  just  as  great  for  training  in  art  and  public  taste  in  the  products 
which  may  be  made  from  portland  cement,  as  in  those  of  other  materials 
which  ultimately  find  their  way  into  the  fields  of  art  and  architecture. 

Cement  products  cannot  be  successfully  and  truly  sold  until  they  are 
properly  and  intelligently  designed.  It  is  highly  essential  that  the 
manufacturer  of  such  products  have  a  proper  appreciation  of  art  and 
an  appreciable  ability  in  taste  and  design.  This  Conference  or  some 
other  agency  should  at  once  proceed  to  secure  a  large  number  of  good 
designs  for  small  houses  and  apartments  by  instituting  a  competition, 
offering  numerous  prizes  of  generous  proportion,  and  providing  for 
competent  judges  of  well-known  standing  so  that  the  best  designing 
talent  in  architecture  may  be  attracted.  There  is  a  dearth  of  good 
designs  of  concrete  houses  of  moderate  price  and  economical  construc- 
tion. The  results  of  the  competition  suggested  and  the  compilation  of 
data  that  would  result  from  it,  should  be  assembled  in  suitable  form  for 
distribution  among,  and  use  by  various  architects,  builders,  realtors, 
housing  associations  and  community  plan  organizations  that  may  be 
interested  in  the  solution  of  our  pressing  housing  problem. 

The  following  principles  relating  to  the  design  and  construction 
of  small  houses  and  apartments  should  be  given  consideration: 

1.  The  planning  of  small  houses  requires  much  patient  study 
and  as  the  individual  small  house  owner  does  not  and  cannot  afford 
to  pay  for  the  best  individual  architectural  services,  therefore  the  design 
of  houses  is  a  matter  in  which  society  as  a  Avhole  and  individual  com- 
munities in  particular  should  interest  themselves.     They  should  pro- 


46  PROCEEDINGS    OF   NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

vide  the  funds  for  scientifically  planned,  practical,  economical,  con- 
venient, good  looking  homes  that  may  be  duplicated  a  number  of  times 
without  monotony,  thereby  spreading  the  cost  of  plans  and  designs 
over  a  large  number  of  house  units. 

2.  Individual  small  houses  with  plenty  of  yard  all  around,  are 
preferable.  Duplex  or  double  houses  or  rows  of  houses  of  from  4  to  6 
units,  not  to  exceed  two  rooms  deep  from  front  to  rear,  may  be  tol- 
erated for  the  sake  of  economy  in  land.  Planting  of  shrubs  and  trees 
about  the  house,  making  the  yard  practically  an  outdoor  living  room 
and  embellishing  the  street  and  immediate  environment  of  the  house 
are  essential.  So-called  backyards  should  be  considered  things  of  the 
past  and  gardens  should  be  substituted  therefor. 

3.  Home  builders  should  be  urged  to  abandon  established  ex- 
travagant or  wasteful  customs  or  prejudices  that  stand  in  the  way  of 
meeting  present-day  building  problems  in  an  up-to-date  logical  manner 
and  permitting  at  the  same  time  attainment  of  the  highest  ideals  that 
go  to  make  up  the  spirit  of  home  in  conformity  with  the  growing  ideals 
of  our  people. 

The  house  should  be  as  small  as  possible  consistent  with  comfort, 
convenience  and  reduction  to  the  minimum  of  housework.  Size  and 
display  do  not  make  for  happiness.  Non-dividend  paying  or  waste 
spaces  should  be  eliminated  and  maximum  intensive  use  be  adopted. 
Supplying  the  needs  and  convenience  of  the  family  should  take  prece- 
dence over  complying  with  the  supposed  approval  of  friends  or  with 
the  supposed  ideals  of  the  extravagant  rich.  The  house  should  have 
good  quality  though  less  quantity.  Nothing  can  be  gained  by  way  of 
comfort,  durability  or  attractiveness  from  inferior  construction.  Since 
the  cost  of  a  house  of  good  floor  plan  and  exterior  treatment  does  not 
increase  in  proportion  to  an  increase  in  size  of  rooms  or  the  scale  of  the 
plan,  therefore  proper  space  for  furniture  and  the  expression  of  individ- 
uality and  taste  of  the  owner  or  occupant  should  not  be  sacrificed.  Any 
attempt  to  press  everyone  into  the  choice  of  the  same  kind  of  a  house 
is  a  serious  mistake. 

Eliminate  excessive  overhanging  eaves  excepting  where  the  par- 
ticular style  of  the  house,  such  as  flat  roof  design,  demands  it.  Open 
porches  that  can  be  used  only  a  few  months  of  the  year  are  wasteful 
and  should  be  reduced  to  a  minimum.  Sun  porches  and  sleeping 
rooms  can  be  used  as  open  porches  in  the  summer  and  as  habitable 
rooms  in  the  winter.     They  are  preferable  to  open  porches. 

Attics  should  be  eliminated  wherever  possible  and  basements  built 
under  the  house  for  storage  and  to  make  it  dry  and  healthful.  Ceilings 
should  be  cut  to  the  minimum  height.  There  should  be  plenty  of  win- 
dows for  liffht  and  ventilation.  Ceilings  under  attics  or  roofs  and  also 
walls  should  be  insulated  against  cold  in  winter  and  heat  in  summer. 
Roofs  where  possible  should  serve  only  to  shelter  from  the  weather  and 
to  provide  pleasing  variety  of  color  and  form  to  the  house. 

Since  butlers  are  scarce,  if  not  extinct,  butler's  pantries  should 
be  eliminated.    Halls  in  small  houses  are  out  of  the  question. 

Houses  should  be  practically  nonburnable  and  more  than  one 
stairway  should  be  considered  extravagant  or  useless. 


ON  CONCRETE  H0U8E   CONSTRUCTION  47 

Since  dining  rooms  as  such  arc  not  used  in  excess  of  one  hour  a 
day,  they  should  be  replaced  by  dining  alcoves  adjacent  to  living  rooms, 
giving  extra  space  to  the  living  room,  if  possible,  or  the  kitchens  should 
be  reduced  to  alcoves  off  the  dining  rooms,  made  compact  and  convenient 
as  combined  kitchen  and  pantry  space  and  capable  of  being  shut  off 
from  dining  or  living  room  space  when  not  in  use.  Kitchens  as  such 
should  be  planned  with  the  idea  of  light  and  cheery  laboratories,  pro- 
viding convenient  space  for  all  kitchen  work  and  utensils  and  storage 
of  materials  used  therein  rather  than  on  the  old  idea  of  a  room  of  the 
house  with  stove  and  sink  and  requiring  pantries  for  the  storage  of 
utensils  and  materials. 

The  prejudice  against  hard  floors  should  be  overcome  and  floors 
be  built  fireproof  with  a  good  attractive,  non-absorbent  finish,  prefer- 
ably of  cement  and  stone  or  marble  aggregate,  capable  of  being  ground 
smooth  and  polished. 

4.  It  should  always  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  planning  and 
building  of  a  home  should  be  an  asset  to  the  community  as  well  as 
to  the  owner,  that  badly  planned,  bad  looking,  cheaply  built  houses  are 
a  liability  both  to  owner  and  community.  Every  betterment  in  house 
design  and  construction  reacts  upon  the  community  for  better  citizen- 
ship and  better  government.  No  country,  not  even  a  rich  republic,  can 
afford  to  rebuild  its  homes  every  30  or  50  years.  Good  design  and  good 
taste  in  the  matter  of  home  buildings,  home  furnishings,  home  decora- 
tions and  home  uses  should  be  considered  a  national  asset  and  no  pains 
should  be  spared  to  cultivate  good  taste  and  teach  good  design  by  ex- 
ample and  precept  to  the  rising  generations. 

REMARKS 

Leslie  H.  Allen:  I  am  sure  we  are  all  indebted  to  Mr.  Pond 
and  Mr.  Holsman  for  what  they  have  said. 

It  seems  very  evident  that  the  use  of  concrete  in  house  construc- 
tion has  developed  almost  entirely  without  the  assistance  of  the  archi- 
tect. As  we  look  at  the  concrete  houses  that  have  been  built,  it  is 
painfully  evident  they  were  not  designed  by  people  who  had  any  ar- 
tistic appreciation  of  how  to  use  the  material  in  hand.  I  am  certain 
we  shall  not  succeed  in  popularizing  the  concrete  house  with  people 
in  general  until  we  can  show  them  that  through  the  medium  of  concrete 
they  can  be  given  something  really  artistic,  which  conforms  to  the  canons 
of  taste  that  Mr.  Holsman  has  outlined  for  us.  However,  I  think  we 
would  have  to  wait  too  long  for  the  desired  end  by  depending  upon  a 
campaign  of  education  in  the  schools.  We  should  enlist  the  sympathies 
and  interests  of  architects  throughout  the  country  now  and  get  them  to 
cooperate  with  us.  We  engineers  should  not  try  alone  to  perfect  good 
looking  designs  for  concrete  houses.  As  engineers  we  want  to  utilize  the 
economies  that  a  concrete  house  offers  to  the  fullest  extent.  We  are 
rather  disposed  to  put  a  flat  roof  on  the  concrete  house  and  that  is  a 
difficult  architectural  problem — to  build  a  small  box  with  a  flat  roof. 
However,  I  do  not  regard  it  as  impossible  of  solution.  Rather,  I 
think  it  is  a  challenge  to  our  architectural  friends  to  show  us  what  they 
can  do. 


48  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

As  to  the  use  of  concrete  block,  there  are  the  difficulties  encountered 
in  that  we  have  a  large  unit  for  a  small  structure.  It  is  quite  a  prob- 
lem architecturally  to  use  such  units  in  a  small  house  even  if  the  sur- 
face is  acceptable  from  an  artistic  standpoint.  That  is,  the  difficulty- 
is  in  getting  an  effect  as  pleasing  as  can  be  obtained  with  face-brick. 
However,  it  is  not  an  impossible  condition  to  meet  but  one  that  needs 
much  more  thought  and  study  than  it  has  so  far  received.  When  we  have 
secured  an  artistic  result,  we  have  no  difficulty  iii  selling  it,  especially 
when  you  consider  that  now  the  cost  of  concrete  is  such  as  to  compete 
successfully  with  the  cheapest  houses  of  other  types  of  construction. 
I  think  a  word  of  protest  should  be  registered  against  the  sentiments 
contained  in  the  quotation  made  by  Mr.  Pond  in  which  it  was  stated  that 
it  was  a  mistake  to  build  houses  too  permanent.  We  have  long  been 
deploring  the  rapidity  with  which  the  frame  house  depreciates.  We 
have  seen  many  owners  of  houses  fighting  to  protect  their  equities  that 
have  been  wiped  out  because  the  structural  material  has  deteriorated  so 
rapidly.  Yet  there  are  people  today  who  are  advising  us  not  to  make 
a  house  too  permanent  because  the  salvage  value  cannot  be  reckoned 
on  if  it  must  be  removed  or  demolished.  There  are  a  number  of  brick 
houses  in  many  communities  that  have  stood  for  50  or  more  years  and 
are  still  in  use  today.  There  is  no  reason  why  there  shouldn't  be 
as  many  and  more  concrete  houses  rendering  the  same  or  even  better 
account  of  themselves.  There  are,  of  course,  conditions  when  a  house 
must  be  pulled  down  to  make  way  for  some  other  improvement.  As 
a  rule  this  is  because  the  value  of  the  land  has  increased  so  much  as 
to  make  a  different  kind  of  an  investment  on  the  land  a  better  business 
proposition.  In  such  a  case  there  is  no  loss.  Therefore,  I  think  that 
some  protest  is  needed  against  any  suggestion  that  a  concrete  house  is 
not  suitable  because  it  is  too  substantial. 


No  separate  report  is  submitted  by  the  Committee  on  Architecture 
and  Design,  but  the  two  preceding  papers  by  Mr.  Pond,  a  member  of  this 
Committee,  and  by  Mr.  Holsman,  are  submitted  in  lieu  thereof  as 
expressing  the  sense  of  this  Committee. 

Committee  on  Architecture  and  Design 

Robert  Spencer,  Chairman,  Chicago 
Melville   C.   Chatten,    Chicago 
John  Reed  Fugard,  Chicago 
Bernhard  C.  Greengard,  Chicago 
Ira  W.   Hoover,   Chicago 
George  C.  Nimmons,  Chicago 
Irving  K.  Pond,  Chicago 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  49 


HOUSING  NEEDS  FROM  THE  VIEWPOINT 
OF  INDUSTRY 

By  John  Glass,  Manufacturers  Record,  Baltimore. 

For  many  years  the  National  Housing  Association  waged  an  uphill 
fight  in  its  efforts  to  convince  us  individually  and  collectively,  that  there 
was  a  housing  situation  in  America  crying  for  a  solution.  It  took  the 
pressure  of  war  on  our  industries  to  make  us  realize  that  without  a 
home  and  the  advantages  that  home  affords,  the  worker  could  not  enjoy 
that  contentment  which  money  cannot  compensate  for  and  which  is 
necessary  to  putting  one's  heart  in  one's  work  and  making  output  estab- 
lish new  records.  Production  and  still  more  production  is  our  need 
today  also. 

In  establishing  its  various  industrial  centers  of  war  activity,  the 
government  realized  that  the  foremost  need  in  these  centers  was  to 
properly  house  and  in  other  related  ways,  care  for  the  workers,  so  that 
the  output  desired  of  them  might  be  realized.  Are  we  in  our  charac- 
teristic American  habit  going  quietly  asleep  now,  allowing  these  great 
lessons,  learned  at  so  great  a  cost  to  be  forgotten?     I  hope  not. 

Many  industries  which  I  might  name,  and  the  names  of  which  per- 
haps immediately  come  to  your  minds,  have  been  conspicuous  for  a 
number  of  years  in  welfare  work  for  their  employes.  They  have  realized 
that  fostering  a  spirit  of  contentment  among  their  employes,  increases 
the  capital  stock  of  good-will  which  those  employes  bear  to  the  employer. 
For  that  reason  much  progress  has  been  made  in  all  kinds  of  social  wel- 
fare work  in  industry.  A  great  deal  of  this  has  visibly  expressed  itself 
in  the  form  of  more  cleanly,  lighter  and  generally  better  working  en- 
vironment. Eest  rooms  and  hospital  service,  recreation  features  of 
various  kinds,  are  all  developments  of  industrial  betterment  from  the 
viewpoint  of  recognizing  and  in  some  way  attempting  to  supply  needs  as 
well  as  diversions  which  help  make  the  worker  more  contented. 

In  our  cities  we  have  enacted  ordinances,  carefully  establishing  fire 
limits,  rules  and  regulations  relating  to  kind  and  structural  strength  of 
materials  entering  into  the  construction  of  buildings,  insuring  that 
industrial  buildings  are  well  lighted,  ventilated  and  as  healthful  as  they 
can  be  made.  This  is  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  after  all,  it  reaches  but 
a  small  part  of  the  worker's  actual  life.  It  does  not  enter  into  his  living 
from  the  aspect  of  home,  because  home  means  more  than  a  mere  shelter. 
It  means  a  place  where  rest,  encouraged  by  contentment,  can  throw  off 
the  fatigue  of  the  day,  where  family  life  can  be  enjoyed,  where  the  patch 
of  flowers  or  lawn  can  be  cultivated  and  enjoyed — in  other  words,  it 
means  a  haven  of  joy  and  rest. 

Those  industries  which  have  been  foremost  in  betterment  work 
among  their  employes,  have  kept  before  them  continually  a  progressive 
program,  because  past  experiences  have  proven  clearly  that  a  human 
interest  in  human  beings  justifies  large  capitalization.  Because  our 
experience  is  not  yet  extensive  enough  to  have  furnished  figures,  as  well 
as  a  multitude  of  unquestionable  authentic  facts,  we  are  not  able  to 


50 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


The  housing  development  at  Morgan  Park,  Minn.,  Is  an  excellent  example  of  the  successful 
solution  of  big  housing  problems  with  concrete.  Though  the  result  of  large  scale 
production,  these  houses  have  every  appearance  of  individually  built  homes. 


i 

i          .                    ■          '  ■  • 
1 

I           ■  . 

1 

n-^w*«]     ..JjiPI.       "l^iiWI 

1  ^^^K- 

■■"■™™J^^^-^T., 

ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  51 

reduce  to  dollars  and  cents  the  actual  profit  of  any  well  developed,  well 
wrought  out,  well  executed  plans  for  improving  the  conditions  of  indus- 
trial workers.  We  do  know,  however,  how  costly  the  item  of  labor  turn- 
over is.  We  also  know  that  much  of  this  turnover  with  its  attendant 
expense  and  its  disorganizing  of  industry,  is  due  to  the  fact  that  at  the 
end  of  the  day,  the  tired  worker,  regardless  of  his  status  in  life,  married 
or  single,  with  or  without  a  family,  has  no  attractive  surroundings  or  no 
congenial  diversions  offered  away  from  harmful  influences  where  he  can 
relax  and  really  enjoy  the  hours  off  duty. 

There  are  still  many  industrial  concerns  in  the  country,  which  one 
would  have  thought  would  long  ago  have  recognized  that  many  of 
their  labor  and  other  difficulties  were  founded  on  neglect  of  employes' 
welfare,  and  employes  in  this  case  means  not  only  the  laborer,  but  those 
grading  upward  in  employ  to  perhaps  men  occupying  semi-official  or 
even  official  rank  in  the  industry  with  which  identified. 

A  community  filled  with  happy  homes  is  certain  to  be  a  community 
of  better  moral  tone  than  one  less  fortunately  favored. 

In  a  paper  presented  by  John  Molitor  before  one  of  the  Conferences 
of  the  National  Housing  Association,  I  find  the  following : 

"Weakened  bodies  in  large  numbers  mean  weakened  will  power  in 
the  masses,  and  indicates  a  large  economic  waste,  which,  unchecked, 
means  vice  and  crime,  necessitating  elaborate  and  expensive  police  forces, 
courts  of  justice  and  penal  institutions  of  various  kinds.  This  waste, 
mainly  attributable  to  poor  housing  conditions,  is  quite  in  line  with  our 
great  national  waste  of  natural  resources,  our  forest  and  city  fires  and 
our  disregard  for  the  future.  As  an  organized  and  effective  conservation 
is  the  only  answer  to  those  other  wastes,  so  it  is  the  answer  to  the  great 
waste  of  our  industrial  population,  which  is  the  source  of  the  country's 
real  strength.  We  must  profit  by  the  example  of  other  nations  and  be 
inspired  to  make  possible  the  pursuit  of  happiness  for  our  huge  army 
of  struggling  toilers.  We  must  recognize  the  need  of  economic  rather 
than  philanthropic  work.  We  must  appreciate  the  ineffectiveness  of  our 
elaborate  school  system  in  making  good  citizens  when  the  influence  of 
the  home  is  diametrically  opposed  to  it.  We  must  recognize  the  evils 
incident  to  slums,   and   overcrowded,   insanitary  tenements." 

Mr.  Molitor  in  those  words  has  said  all  that  I  can  say  to  you.  Any- 
thing further  is  merely  calling  your  attention  to  some  of  the  conspicuous 
opportunities  which  the  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Con- 
'struction  here  gathered  has  to  make  a  name  and  fame  for  itself  in 
helping  to  provide  a  solution  for  our  now  most  pressing  national 
housing  situation. 

Housing  needs  today  are  greater  than  ever  before  in  the  history  of 
this  or  any  other  country.  The  reason  for  this  is  evident  to  all  of  you. 
Several  years  of  enforced  inactivity  in  home  building,  due  to  the  fact 
that  all  of  the  government's  man  power  was  being  requisitioned  to  fight 
a  world  war,  has  caused  a  shortage  that  threatens  to  convert  the  out- 
wardly fine  residential  section  into  an  inward  slum,  merely  because  of 
overcrowding.  That  the  situation  is  acute  everywhere  is  indexed  in 
almost  every  newspaper  that  one  can  pick  up.  A  reading  of  the  adver- 
tisements for  houses  or  apartments  wanted,  will  show  desperation  ex- 
pressed in  the  form  of  fancy  bonuses  offered  to  anyone  who  can  acquaint 
the  advertiser  with  how  and  where  suitable  living  quarters  may  be 
obtained.     I  can  conceive  of  no  more  nerve-racking  strain  than  to  be 


52  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

without  a  home,  and  if  we  are  to  retain  our  present  strength  as  a  nation, 
not  to  mention  increase  it,  as  we  should  in  the  natural  order  of  progress, 
we  must  find  a  speedy  solution  to  this  pressing  national  housing  condi- 
tion. Our  very  industrial  existence  depends  upon  it  and  industrial 
existence  may  be  made  to  include  the  humblest  industry  of  the  country, 
for  man  vigor  is  being  wasted  in  the  effort  to  find  contentment. 

The  present  problem  of  labor  turnover  is  being  recognized  by  em- 
ployers as  one  of  the  greatest  difficulties  they  have  to  contend  with.  A 
continually  changing  force  in  factory  or  other  business  is  expensive 
because  the  new  employe  is  liable  to  spoil  valuable  material  or  merchan- 
dise, it  takes  him  some  time  to  learn  his  job,  during  which  he  produces 
less  than  his  fellow-workmen.  He  is  likely  to  damage  intricate  ma- 
chinery by  his  carelessness.  The  foreman  has  to  spend  a  good  deal  of 
his  time  teaching  him  his  new  job — the  time  that  should  be  spent  man- 
aging the  whole  shop.  Clerical  work  alone  of  hiring  men  and  paying 
them  off  as  they  leave,  and  the  continual  revising  payrolls,  represent 
considerable  expense  and  lost  motion. 

In  view  of  all  the  unrest  with  which  we  have  been  confronted  in  the 
past  few  months  and  which  is  still  with  us  in  a  great  degree,  it  seems  to 
me  that  it  is  up  to  us  to  give  immediate  attention  to  this  pressing  hous- 
ing problem  as  one  of  the  most  inviting  fields  in  which  to  direct  our 
endeavors.    We  may  thereby  eliminate  most  of  the  present  unrest. 

Just  how  a  solution  may  be  effectively  contributed  to  by  this  con- 
ference, I  do  not  presume  to  advise.  There  are  enough  wiser  heads  than 
mine  here,  certain  to  work  out  some  part  of  the  solution  which  fortu- 
nately can  be  helped  by  many  precedents  that  will,  no  doubt,  point  a 
way. 

The  need  for  homes  is  not  confined  to  any  part  of  the  country,  the 
small,  as  well  as  the  large  city,  needs  them.  The  country  needs  them, 
for  unrest  in  various  forms  has  been  disclosed  on  the  farms.  The  farm 
laborer  is  no  better  satisfied  with  sleeping  quarters  in  the  hay  mow 
than  the  city  worker  is  satisfied  with  the  so-called  home  in  the  tenement 
hallway.  We  have  many  classes  of  people  to  provide  homes  for.  The 
unskilled  workman,  the  skilled  artisan,  the  foreman,  the  superintendent, 
the  executive,  the  man  of  relatively  little  or  no  means,  the  man  of  con- 
siderable means,  all  are  out  looking  for  a  home  or  a  better  home.  I  am 
myself.  .« i    j 

Apartment,  or  so-called  flat  accommodations  in  our  large  cities  are 
at  a  premium — they  cannot  be  found.  Many  of  you  have  realized  the 
difficult  of  securing  even  transient  hotel  accommodations,  not  only  in 
Chicago,  but  in  other  cities  where  business  has  called  you. 

The  humblest  paid  worker,  living  in  the  progressive  atmosphere  of 
these  United  States  wants  a  better  home  now  than  he  would  have  con- 
sidered a  few  years  ago.  Especially  is  this  true  if  he  has  come  from  the 
congested  centers  of  some  of  our  European  countries.  He  has  become 
familiar  with  many  of  the  convenient  appointments  of  American  homes 
and  if  his  means  permit,  he  naturally  aspires  to  enjoying  some  of  these 
conveniences  and  appointments. 

I  have  no  doubt  from  the  program  of  this  Conference  that  the 
various  committees  reporting  to  it,  are  going  to  offer  valuable  sugges- 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  53 

tions  as  to  how  we,  here  assembled,  may  do  credit  to  ourselves  for 
having  been  identified  with  this  Conference. 

We  are  face  to  face  with  the  inter-relation  and  inter-dependence  of 
all  members  of  society  as  never  before.  We  realize  that  this  is  the  time 
to  assist  the  employe  to  gratify  a  sane  human  desire  for  more  than  a 
shelter,  to  assist  him  in  every  way  to  secure  the  same  kind  of  a  home 
that  you  and  I  want,  and  I  hope  you  have.  In  encouraging  and  assist- 
ing the  worker  to  this  end,  you  have  helped  to  promote  in  a  desirable 
degree  a  standard  of  living  that  will  mean  better,  more  efficient  workers, 
because  of  environment  that  conduces  to  mental,  moral  and  physical 
growth ;  and,  as  I  have  said  before,  there  is  no  danger  of  over-capitaliz- 
ing any  investment  that  we  may  make  in  industrial  contentment. 


54 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


'.^'^■'.Mf^^  / 


POGGH- 


* 


PiaST      PLOOa      PLA./I 


Perspective  and  floor  plan  of  farm  house  design  awarded  first  prize  in  a  competition  conducted 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  the  Illinois  Chapter  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Architects. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  6S 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  FARM  HOUSING 

First,  the  committee  desires  most  seriously  to  emphasize  the  fact  that 
the  question  of  farm  housing  is  one  of  the  utmost  gravity.  It  is  intimately 
and  fundamentally  connected  with  a  basic  industry,  agriculture.  It  has 
been  left,  in  the  main,  to  develop  almost  automatically,  without  help  or 
guidance  from  any  source  that  might  be  qualified  to  render  material  aid 
or  able  and  intelligent  suggestion.  It  is  today  a  problem  that  demands 
immediate  and  adequate  attention  if  the  best  interests  of  our  nation  are 
to  be  conserved. 

Kecent  investigation  by  federal  and  state  authorities  indicate  that 
the  spirit  of  unrest  and  dissatisfaction  so  prevalent  in  other  industries, 
extends  also  into  the  agricultural  field.  It  involves  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, the  farm  owner,  the  farm  tenant,  and  every  farm  worker. 
Though  there  has  undoubtedly  been  improvement  in  general  living 
conditions  on  farms,  making  the  comparison  from  generation  to  gener- 
ation, still  the  change  has  not  been  commensurate  with  that  in  favor- 
able urban  communities.  This  insufficient  development,  in  connection 
with  other  universally  disturbing  factors,  such  as  unsettled  labor  and 
discouraging  market  conditions,  is  productive  of  a  spirit  of  discontent 
and  depression  which  is  becoming  increasingly  apparent,  and  which  will 
undoubtedly  result  in  increasingly  unfavorable  reactions. 

As  an  indication  of  a  condition  more  or  less  prevalent  in  every 
state,  the  following  quotation  from  the  daily  press  relative  to  the  situa- 
tion in  the  state  of  New  York,  is  made: 

"Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  11. — The  abandonment  of  farm  life  by  men  and 
boys  during  the  last  year  for  the  city  has  left  more  than  24,000  habitable 
farm  houses  in  the  state  vacant,  according  to  estimates  by  Prof.  G.  P. 
Warren  of  Cornell  university.  His  figures  were  based  on  a  survey  of  New 
York  farms,  which  has  just  been  completed  by  federal  and  state  agricul- 
tural authorities. 

Prof.  Warren  said  that  the  figures  explained  to  some  extent  the  scar- 
city of  houses  in  the  cities.  The  exodus  from  the  farms,  he  declared,  has 
taken  place  despite  the  fact  that  farm  wages  will  be  higher  by  14  per  cent 
this  year  than  last.  He  said  the  survey  indicates  that  a  single  man  this 
year  will  average  $52.25  per  month  in  addition  to  his  board,  while  a 
married  man  will  receive  monthly  wage  of  $68.50,  in  addition  to  a  house 
for  himself  and  family  and  some  farm  products  instead  of  board." 

The  fact  that  housing  conditions  on  many  of  the  farms  of  the 
country  are  notoriously  inadequate,  undoubtedly  is  a  strong  contrib- 
utory influence  in  promoting  dissatisfaction  among  our  agricultural 
population.  During  the  war,  building  operations,  except  those  relating 
to  war  industries,  were  restricted  or  greatly  reduced.  Although  more 
than  a  year  has  past  since  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  there  has  been 
no  apparent  relief  from  the  situation.  Unless  conditions  are  remedied, 
this  country  will  very  soon  find  itself  in  the  same  difficult  and  involved 
situation  which  confronts  agricultural  Europe  and  which  has  assumed 
such  proportions  as  to  render  it  extremely  doubtful  if  a  desirable  solu- 
tion can  be  found  without  it  being  attended  with  grave  consequences. 
All  American  industries  are  looking  to  agriculture  to  exert  that 
ameliorating  influence  which  might  act  as  oil  on  troubled  waters.     No 


56 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


MaST     FLOOG     PLA/f 


First  prize  design  for  a  farm  house  resulting  from  a  competition  conducted  by  the  University 

of  Minnesota. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  57 

effort  should  be  spared  which,  in  any  way  will  contribute  to  the  strength 
of  this  influence;  agricultural  contentment  is  essential  to  universal, 
industrial  peace ;  good  home  life  is  the  basis  of  agricultural  contentment, 
and  a  good  home  is  essential  for  the  enjoyment  of  good  home  life. 

"In  the  near  future  many  new  farm  houses  will  be  built;  they 
should  be  built  so  as  to  include  the  maximum  of  desired  features. 
Health  and  happiness  in  the  home  are  not  marketable  commodities,  and 
yet  if  estimated  through  a  term  of  years,  no  one  could  deny  that  tangible 
profits  would  accrue  from  an  investment  in  a  home  which  would  insure 
more  comfortable  living  conditions  and  healthier  population.  In  accord- 
ance with  human  tendencies,  the  mistakes  and  triumphs  incorporated  in 
the  structures  of  one  generation  will  be  transmitted  to  the  next  where 
their  influence  will  be  unfavorable,  or  favorable,  as  the  case  may  be. 
The  present  generation  should  feel  it  their  duty  to  build  wisely  for  the 
future.*' 

Purposes  of  the  Farm  House 

The  fundamental  purposes  of  the  farm  house,  that  of  providing 
shelter  and  warmth  naturally  apply  to  the  farm  house  as  well  as  to  a 
house  in  any  location.  Because  rural  conditions,  however,  are  different 
from  urban  or  suburban  conditions,  it  may  be  well  to  further  differen- 
tiate the  reasons  why  farm  houses  are  necessary. 

1.  To  provide  shelter  from  the  elements  and  their  effects,  such  as 
rain,  snow,  ice,  wind,  heat,  and  cold. 

2.  To  furnish  protection  from  animals,  vermin,  and  insects. 

3.  To  provide  safe  and  adequate  storage  for  the  various  goods  and 
treasures  of  the  family. 

4.  To  provide  an  administrative  center  from  which  the  farm  oper- 
ations may  be  directed. 

5.  To  provide  a  place  in  which  the  social  life  of  the  family  may  be 
developed  and  consummated. 

6.  To  make  provision  for  the  desirable  privacy  of  the  individual 
and  the  family. 

7.  To  provide  a  home. 

Economic  Minimum  for  the  Farm  House 

Perhaps  the  fundamental  issues  of  farm  housing  can  be  most  readily 
examined  if  there  be  made  first  a  definition  as  to  what  should  constitute 
an  economic  minimum  of  requirements  for  the  dwelling.  It  is  recognized 
that  promulgation  of  such  a  minimum  can  be  made  only  after  a  most 
serious  consideration  of  all  the  conditions  and  influences  affecting  farm 
life,  and  that  no  one  minimum  can  be  made  which  will  be  universally 
applicable  to  all  conditions,  in  all  localities.  Authorities  may  also  differ 
as  to  what  constitutes  a  minimum,  and  it  can  be  readily  conceived  that 
items  of  such  a  minimum  may  change  from  time  to  time.  This  minimum 
standard  should  be  based  on  the  least  household  provision  at  which 
wholesome  living  conditions  can  be  maintained  from  the  standpoint  of 
health,  labor,  care,  maintenance,  and  enjoyment.     There  are  at  least 


58 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


POQCH 

CO/iCCETE:  F-LOOG 
16- e'/  9'-0" 


Fie^ST  FLOOa  PLAA 


Floor  plan  of  farm  residence  awarded  highest  honors  in  an  architectural  competition  held  by 
the  College  of  Agriculture  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION        ,         g^ 


three  viewpoints  which  should  be  considered  as  of  major  J 
the  preparation  of  the  minimum  standard.    These  are :      / 

1.  Construction.  / 

2.  Arrangement. 

3.  Equipment. 

The  period  of  early  settlement  when  there  was  pressure  to  provide 
shelter  for  people  under  any  kind  of  roof,  has  passed,  and  we  have  pro- 
gressed through  several  stages  of  recent  housing  development  until  the 
time  is  now  reached  when  all  manner  of  building  is  expensive.  It  is 
necessary  to  examine  carefully  every  point  connected  with  building 
in  order  that  there  be  no  admission  of  extravagance  at  any  point.  It 
can  be  reasonably  asserted  in  the  opinions  of  prominent  authorities  that 
the  establishment  of  a  housing  standard  at  the  present  time  may  be 
made  with  fair  assurance  that  it  may  endure  for  a  comparatively  long 
period  of  time.  Consequently,  future  needs  and  possibilities  should  be 
given  consideration  as  well  as  present  conditions. 

The  arrangement  of  a  house  is  based  primarily  on  its  needs. 
''Broadly  speaking,  family  life  makes  three  demands  on  a  house  plan; 
that  it  shall  provide  living  area,  working  area,  and  sleeping  area.  It  is 
the  function  of  a  good  plan  to  organize  these  three  into  a  compact  ar- 
rangement, allowing  each  requirement  an  area  to  itself.  Spaciousness 
must  be  expressed  in  the  living  area,  compactness  in  the  working  area, 
and  privacy  in  the  sleeping  area."  The  whole  arrangement  must  be 
made  so  as  to  encourage  wholesome  living. 

Conservation  of  time  and  energy  is  obviously  one  of  the  problems, 
the  solution  of  which  is  necessary  for  the  successful  conduct  of  the 
household  operations.  Perhaps  the  most  important  way  of  achieving 
such  conservation  is  to  make  use  of  proper  and  adequate  labor  saving 
equipment.  Carefully  chosen,  the  items  of  equipment  will  yield  return 
in  comfort,  economy,  and  sanitation.  It  will  be  true  economy  to  include 
any  item  which  will  enable  the  physical  business  of  living  to  be  accom- 
plished with  fitness  and  despatch.  The  more  perfectly  the  home  is 
equipped,  the  greater  opportunity  will  the  spirit  have  to  grow  and  to 
express  itself. 

Minimum  Requirements  for  a  Good  Farm  Residence 

1.  The  material  entering  into  the  construction  of  the  building 
should  be  reasonably  permanent  in  order  that  the  depreciation 
and  the  cost  of  maintenance  be  kept  as  low  as  possible  and  that 
the  structure  be  reasonably  safe  from  destruction  by  natural 
causes. 

2.  Water  tight  construction  in  walls  and  roof. 

3.  Adequate  insulation  from  cold  in  order  that  a  reasonable  degree 
of  warmth  may  be  maintained  within  the  building. 

4.  Smooth,  tight  floors. 

5.  Light,  dry  basement  in  which  should  be  made  provision  only 
for  storage  or  for  the  location  of  household  equipment. 

6.  Adequate  space  set  off  for  sleeping  purposes,  separate  bedrooms 


58 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


The   permanent    character   of    this    attractive    concrete    farm    residence    is    emphasized    by    its 

concrete  tile  roof. 


POGCW- 

I8'-0"XIO-0" 


m 


fmsT 


FL00I5 


PLAA 


The  Department  of  Agricultural  Engineering  of  the  University  of   Ohio  found  that  the   floor 
plan  above  meets  most  of  the  requirements  for  a  farm  house  in  that  state. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  61 

being  provided  for  the  use  of  parents,  of  male  children,  and  of 
female  children. 

7.  Every  bedroom  to  have  an  adequate  clothes  closet  opening  from 
the  room. 

8.  Provision  made  for  culinary  operations  and  for  dining  purposes. 

9.  A  room  in  which  the  family  may  assemble,  and  in  which  social 
life  may  be  developed.  The  dining  accommodations  may  be 
included  in  this  room  if  desired. 

10.  Adequate  equipment  to  lessen  labor  and  to  simplify  the  conduct 
of  household  operations;  this  should  include  heating,  lighting 
and  water  supply. 

11.'  Adequate  sanitation,  including  lavatory,  bath  tub  and  water 
closet,  with  proper  connection  to  sewer  or  septic  tank.  These 
fixtures  should  be  included  in  a  separate  room. 

12.  Adequate  provision  for  light  and  ventilation,  with  at  least  one 
window  that  may  be  opened  in  every  room. 

13.  The  house  should  be  made  consistently  beautiful  and 
attractive. 

The  various  items  included  in  the  list  immediately  preceding  may 
be  considered  as  fundamental  requirements  which  must  be  included  in 
every  farm  house  of  whatever  kind  or  description.  Naturally,  there 
are  many  other  features  which  can  be  included,  aiid  which  while  not 
absolutely  essential  fundamentally,  do  contribute  so  much  to  the  worth 
of  a  house  that  the  question  of  their  inclusion  should  be  given  the  most 
thoughtful  consideration.  It  is  recognized  that  the  list  which  follows 
cannot  be  presumed  to  be  complete,  and  it  is  inserted  for  the  value  it 
may  have  as  a  guide  to  the  one  who  wants  to  build  something  more  than 
a  mere  structure.  It  is  compiled  from  various  sources  including  not  only 
federal,  state,  and  commercial  bulletins,  but  the  expressions  of  individ- 
uals who  have  given  the  matter  personal  attention. 

Desirable  Features  in  Farm  House  Construction 

1.  The  principal  rooms  shall  have  a  pleasant  outlook,  preferably 
a  southerly  exposure,  the  fullest  advantage  being  taken  of 
attractive  views,  especially  toward  the  highway. 

2.  An  office  readily  accessible  to  the  driveway  and  to  the  barns, 
for  the  conduct  of  the  business  and  the  keeping  of  accounts. 
This  should  be  available  for  both  the  master  and  the  mistress. 

3.  A  guest  bedroom. 

4.  The  location  of  one  of  the  family  bedrooms  on  the  first  floor 
to  be  used  in  case  of  illness  or  accident. 

5.  The  separation  of  employes'  bedrooms  from  the  family  sleep- 
ing quarters.  If  both  male  and  female  help  is  employed,  the 
rooms  for  each  should  be  completely  separated. 

6.  A  wash  room  to  be  used  for  laundry  purposes,  temporary  fuel 
supply,  and  the  storage  of  such  things  as  coats,  overalls,  boots, 
tools,  etc.    This  room  should  be  placed  next  to  the  kitchen  and 


62 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


PII^ST       FL0012.       PLAX 


Farm  house  floor  plan  designed  by  the  Agricultural  Engineering  Section  of  the  Iowa  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station.  It  combines  desirable  features  selected  from  plans  submitted  in  a 
farm  house  plan  contest. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  63 

on  the  direct  route  between  barns  and  dining  room.  The 
function  of  this  room  is  to  act  as  a  sieve  between  the  outdoors 
and  the  house  and  it  should  be  provided  with  a  concrete  floor, 
with  drain,  and  with  laundry  tubs. 

7.  A  food  pantry  in  connection  with  the  kitchen. 

8.  Large  screened  living  and  dining  porches. 

9.  A  fire-place  in  the  living  or  dining  room. 
10.  Separate  bath  or  shower  for  the  farm  help. 

In  the  preceding  discussions  no  special  differentiation  has  been 
made  between  the  requirements  of  the  owner's  house  and  the  tenant 
house.  Naturally,  the  investment  in  the  tenant  house  will  not  be  so 
extensive  as  in  the  owner's  and  the  opportunity  for  the  inclusion  of  a 
large  number  of  desirable  features  will  not  be  so  great.  Nevertheless, 
it  is  imperative  that  the  contentment  of  the  tenant  be  made  a  subject 
of  serious  consideration  and  that  his  quarters  be  made  as  comfortable 
and  attractive  as  consistent  with  circumstances.  The  tenant  is  a  human 
being,  and  in  order  to  work  efficiently,  must  be  housed  comfortably. 
Under  ordinary  conditions,  a  simple  house  is  entirely  satisfactory,  the 
size  depending  upon  his  family.  In  general,  the  problem  of  the  tenant 
house  is  one,  the  plans  of  which  includes  a  general  and  family  room 
that  can  be  kept  orderly,  pleasant,  and  convenient  to  work  in,  with  one 
or  two  rooms  adjacent  or  above  for  sleeping  quarters.  The  culinary 
arrangement  need  not  be  so  elaborate;  it  should,  however,  be  conven- 
ient. The  tenant  dwelling  should  be  so  simple,  compact,  and  good  look- 
ing that  it  can  compete  favorably  with  the  comfort,  convenience  and 
attraction  of  the  miodern  city  home,  for  only  in  this  way  can  the  farm 
owner  appeal  to  an  intelligent  type  of  tenant  whose  permanence  is  de- 
sired. The  testimony  of  rural  communities  in  which  notable  houses 
are  provided  for  farm  help  indicate  that  in  those  communities  there 
existed  no  labor  shortage  during  the  war.  An  efficient,  attractive  house 
is  an  economic  measure  for  the  farmer. 

Conclusions 

Much  has  been  said  and  written  about  the  present  high  cast  of 
building.  It  is  true  that  a  house  of  a  given  size  today  often  costs  twice 
as  much  as  one  of  the  same  size  would  have  cost  twenty-five  years 
ago;  but  this  advance  is  due  not  alone  to  the  increased  cost  of 
labor  and  material,  but  also  to  the  fact  that  we  are  not  comparing  similar 
types  of  dwellings.  We  are  comparing  a  house  equipped  with  heat, 
running  water,  hardwood  floors,  and  many  closets,  and  frequently  with 
electric  light  and  built-in  furniture,  with  a  mere  weather-proof  struc- 
ture built  with  single  floors,  no  closets,  and  few  or  no  modern  improve- 
ments. Many  more  trades  and  much  more  equipment  than  formerly 
now  go  into  the  building  of  a  comfortable  house.  It  is  the  amount  and 
kind  of  equipment  that  increases  the  cost;  a  house  thirty  by  forty  feet 
may  be  made  to  cost  three  thousand  dollars  or  ten  thousand  dollars, 
according  to  the  beauty  and  finish  of  interior  woodwork,  floors  and 
walls,  the  amount  of  plumbing,  the  number  and  kind  of  fixtures  se- 
lected, or  the  kind  of  heating  plant  installed.     The  interest  on  this 


64 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


FieST        FLOOQ. 


PLAA 


Floor   plan    for   farm    house    suggested   by   the    Division    of   Rural    Engineering    of   the    U.    S. 

Department  of  Agriculture. 


PICST 


FLOOfe 


PLAA 


Arrangement    for    farm    house    recommended    by    Department    of    Agricultural    Engineering, 

University  of  Nebraska. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  65 

increased  investment  must  be  reckoned  in  distinctly  human  terms;  in- 
creased joy  of  living,  greater  comfort,  finer  health  and  simpler  house- 
work for  the  women,  should  be  sufficient  return  for  any  man  who  loves 
his  home  and  family. 

' '  Houses  stand  for  not  a  month  nor  for  a  year,  but  for  generations ; 
by  them  the  thrift  of  a  community  is  judged,  by  them  the  ideals  and 
taste  of  a  community  are  formed.  He  who  deliberately  builds  an  ugly 
house  condemns  himself  as  a  poor  citizen,  while  he  who  builds  a  beauti- 
ful house  proves  himself  a  good  citizen,  for  his  personal  effort  contrib- 
utes to  the  public  welfare. '^     (Helen  Binkerd  Young.) 

Our  Ideal 

' '  Therefore  when  we  build,  let  us  think  that  we  build  forever.  Let 
it  not  be  for  present  delight,  nor  for  present  use  alone.  -Let  it  be  such 
work  as  our  descendants  will  thank  us  for,  and  let  us  think  as  we  lay 
stone  on  stone  that  a  time  is  to  come  when  those  stones  will  be  held 
sacred  because  our  hands  have  touched  them  and  that  men  will  say  as 
they  look  upon  the  labor  and  wrought  substance  of  them,  'See  this 
our  fathers  did  for  us.'  " — Ruskin. 

Committee  on  Farm  Housing 

K.  J.  T.  Ekblaw,  Chairman,  Chicago 

W.  G.  Kaiser,  Secretary,  Chicago 

J.  B.  Davidson,  Ames,  Iowa 

F.  W.  Ives,  Columbus,  Ohio 

Daniel  Scoates,  College  Station,  Texas 

J.  L.  Strahan,  Amherst,  Mass. 

Miss  Mabel  Sensor,  Aberdeen,  S,  D. 

Mrs.  Helen  B.  Young,  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

REMARKS. 

Prof.  J.  B.  Davidson:  I  have  two  suggestions  to  offer.  First,  I 
would  like  to  remind  you  that  the  American  farmer  is  enjoying  a 
greater  income  than  at  any  time  in  the  history  of  American  agriculture. 
Of  course,  we  cannot  say  what  his  profits  are  to  be  in  the  future,  but 
we  hope  they  will  be  large.  With  this  increased  income  there  is  going 
to  be  an  increase  in  the  fixed  capital  of  the  farmer,  who  is  either  going 
to  invest  his  capital  in  land  or  in  buildings,  and  I  believe  this  Con- 
ference has  an  opportunity  to  encourage  him  to  increase  his  fixed  capital 
in  buildings. 

This  would  be  strictly  to  the  interest  of  the  farmer.  If  he  increases 
his  fixed  capital  in  land  there  is  a  larger  investment  without  any  par- 
ticular advantage.  If  he  increases  his  fixed  capital  in  a  home,  he  can 
enjoy  its  comforts. 

Second,  since  buildings  are  costing  more,  tliey  ought  to  be  built 
with  greater  regard  for  permanence.  The  larger  investment  ought  to 
be  given  the  added  safeguard  of  permanent  construction.  It  is  also 
important  that  we  have  better  design  and  better  engineering  in  the 
construction  of  these  buildings. 

Robert  F.  Havlik  :     There  has  been  much  said  about  the  suit- 


66  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

ability  of  concrete  floors  for  dwellings.  I  would  like  to  relate  some  of 
the  experiences  I  have  had  in  Moosehart.  There  we  house  hundreds  of 
children.  We  don't  spare  expense.  We  trj^  to  give  them  the  very  best. 
We  originally  started  with  concrete  floors  and  covered  them  with  a 
mastic  preparation  on  the  supposition  that  some  such  covering  was 
needed  for  warmth  and  to  increase  sanitation  and  resiliency.  After  a 
number  of  experiments,  however,  we  found  that  the  cost  of  such  a  floor 
was  higher  than  for  a  terrazzo  floor.  We  find  that  w^e  can  put  down 
a  terrazzo  floor  on  reinforced  concrete  for  19  cents  a  square  foot.  We 
also  find  that  the  buildings  in  which  w^e  have  put  this  are  always  clean 
looking.    The  more  it  is  walked  on  the  cleaner  it  gets. 

In  another  building  w^e  tried  to  cheapen  the  construction  and  put 
in  a  rough  wood  floor  and  cover  that  with  an  inch  and  a  half  of  terrazzo 
covering.  This  floor  is  built  a  little  differently  from  those  on  top  of  con- 
crete. We  place  tar  paper  on  top  of  the  wood  floor,  which  consists  of 
3-inch  ship-lap  laid  on  wood  joists,  the  difference  in  the  floor  construction 
being  that  the  joists  are  spaced  12  inches  on  center  instead  of  16  inches 
on  center  as  they  would  be  were  we  to  use  maple  or  oak  flooring  as  the 
finished  floor.  Reinforcing,  which  consists  of  an  expanded  metal  of 
about  3-inch  mesh,  is  placed  on  top  of  tar  paper,  but  not  nailed  to  it. 
In  a  few^  cases  we  found  that  where  sections  met  it  would  be  advisable 
to  tack  down  the  reinforcement,  such  as  at  a  door  opening.  This  floor 
cost  us  about  26  cents  a  square  foot,  including  reinforcing. 

We  used  to  cover  our  concrete  floors  with  linoleum  or  cork  carpet 
and  then  in  the  center  of  the  room  used  high-priced  rugs.  But  such  as 
we  used  to  buy  for  $25  are  now  selling  for  from  $100  to  $125,  so  we 
cannot  afford  them.  For  the  last  two  or  three  years,  w^herever  we  put 
in  a  terrazzo  floor,  we  have  used  it  uncovered  except  in  the  living  room 
around  the  tables.  In  the  sleeping  rooms  we  just  use  the  bare  floor  and 
there  is  no  complaint  by  any  of  our  people  that  it  is  not  satisfactory  or 
that  it  is  cold. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  67 

COOPERATION  WITH  BUILDING  &  LOAN 

ASSOCIATIONS  IN  FINANCING 

INDIVIDUAL  HOMES 

By  Mark  D.  Eider 
President,  United  States  League  of  Loeal  Building  &  Loan  Associations, 

Chicago,  Illinois 

As  we  understand  it  the  object  of  this  Conference  is  to  assist  in  re- 
lieving the  present  housing  shortage  and  unrest.  This  is  a  very  laudable 
and  patriotic  undertaking  and  worthy  of  this  gathering  of  representa- 
tive men  of  various  professions  and  business  institutions,  who  are  able 
to  visualize  the  ultimate  economic  saving  in  the  use  of  materials  in 
character  and  durability  of  construction  that  assure  permanency  and 
value  of  the  prospective  home. 

The  financing  section  of  this  Conference  represented  by  loaning 
institutions,  mortgage  loan  bankers  and  building  and  loan  associations, 
has  been  called  to  assist  in  arriving  at  the  several  ways  and  means 
whereby  builders  may  finance  such  proposed  home-building  projects 
and  the  purchaser  or  eventual  owner  liquidate  the  indebtedness  incurred 
at  the  lowest  possible  expense. 

Representing  Building  and  Loan  Associations,  I  wish  to  present  a 
few  statistics  showing  the  radius  of  building  and  loan  operations,  size 
of  institutions  and  the  possibilities  of  extending  their  service  to  meet 
some  of  the  needs  presented.  Let  me  quote  from  the  Annual  U.  S. 
League  of  Local  Building  and  Loan  Association's  1918-1919  Report, 
which  covers  the  period  of  the  War  Savings  Campaigns  and  which  is 
greatly  increased  since  then.  In  this  compilation  the  United  States  is 
shown  to  have  7,484  Building  and  Loan  Associations  with  a  membership 
of  4,011,401  and  assets  aggregating  $1,894,344,346.  This  is  an  increase 
for  the  year  of  215  associations,  172,789  members  and  $129,202,171  in 
assets.  The  average  amount  due  each  member  is  $473.23  as  against 
$460.37,  the  amount  shown  last  year. 

The  figure  of  building  and  loan  assets  of  about  $2,000,000,000  is 
practically  an  investment  of  individually  owned  homes  and  represents 
a  mortgage  indebtedness  of  considerably  less  than  60  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  real  property. 

In  the  twelve  states  in  which  notably  increased  assets  are  men- 
tioned, as  well  as  in  many  other  states,  the  building  and  loan  associations 
are  organized  by  State  authority,  and  it  is  through  representation  of 
our  leagues,  that  public  investment  in  them  is  conserved,  safeguarded 
and  regulated  by  special  '' Building  and  Loan  Laws."  In  Illinois  and 
many  other  commonwealths,  they  are  supervised  and  examined  by  the 
Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  or  Banking,  and  periodical  statements  of 
operation  and  condition  rendered  to  the  public,  similar  to  the  supervi- 
sion of  banks. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  increase  in  numbers  of  associations,  mem- 
bership and  size  of  institutions,  the  original  purpose  that  gave  birth  to 
the  '' Building  and  Loan  Plan"  is  still  its  dominating  feature;  that  is, 


68 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


These  attractive  concrete  bungalows  helped  to  solve  the  housing  problem  in  Riverside,  Illinois. 
Walls  are  of  concrete  block  finished  with  Portland  cement  stucco,  roof  of  cement  asbestos 
shingles,  giving  ample  protection  against  the  elements  and  fire. 


p- 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  69 

it  represents  wage-eaniers  and  investors  of  small  savings  with  a  desire 
to  become  home-owners,  who  through  its  officers  seek  to  assist  one  an- 
other by  accumulating  their  savings  and  loaning  them  to  each  other  to 
buy  or  build  homes  on  their  first  mortgage  security.  Building  and  loan 
associations  are  organized,  operated,  conducted  and  managed  solely  in 
the  interest  of  their  depositors.  All  earnings  of  the  institution  go  to 
the  credit  of  investing  members'  shares  whether  borrowed  upon  or  not, 
every  borrower  also  being  an  investing  member  to  repay  his  loan.  Ade- 
quate credit  is  extended  to  the  borrower,  as  from  two-thirds  to  75  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  property  mortgaged,  may  be  loaned,  to  be  repaid 
in  installments  of  interest  and  principal  monthly  in  amounts  slightly 
more' than  would  be  paid  as  rent  for  a  similar  property.  There  are  sev- 
eral amortization  plans  used  by  associations  but  a  re-payment  plan  which 
does  not  exceed  twelve  years  is  most  popular  among  wage-earners.  This 
provides  that  approximately  50  cents  be  paid  on  principal  and  50  cents 
an  interest  per  month,  making  a  total  of  $1  per  month  for  every  $100 
borrowed.  These  payments  are  governed  by  local  conditions  as  to  pre- 
vailing rates  of  interest.  For  example :  A  loan  of  $2,000  at  6  per  cent 
would  require  a  monthly  payment  of  $20,  which  together  with  accumula- 
tions of  profit  for  a  period  not  exceeding  twelve  years,  would  liquidate 
the  indebtedness  and  the  home  would  be  paid  for  and  free  from  in- 
cumbrance. 

Economy  of  administration  cost  is  a  strong  feature  of  building  and 
loan  associations,  as  demonstrated  by  the  following  extracts  from  the 
latest  auditor's  report  for  Illinois  for  1917-18,  from  which  we  have 
taken  the  following: 

''The  average  earnings  of  huilding  and  loan  association  shares  were  about 
seven  per  cent,  and  the  average  operating  expenses  or  cost  of  doing  biisiness  for 
the  fiscal  year,  less  than  1/10  of  one  per  cent  of  $11,815,891,  given  as  the  amount 
of  business  done  for  the  year  through  662  associations." 

These  figures  prove  that  the  business  of  building  and  loan  associa- 
tions is  purely  cooperative,  and  that  the  primary  aim  is  not  to  seek  de- 
positing members  in  order  to  be  in  a  position  to  grant  credit  for  the 
profit  of  a  few  stockholders,  but  to  foster  thrift  and  only  to  utilize 
deposits  for  investment  in  the  interests  of  depositors. 

Financing  home  building  and  its  relation  to  the  development  of  the 
business  of  contractors  and  material  supply  concerns  makes  building  and 
loan  associations  essentially  interesting  to  them.  The  housing  needs 
of  the  country  are  a  real  and  serious  problem  and  relatively  serious  is 
the  financing  of  such  building.  Home  building  is  the  problem  of  the 
individual.  Although  houses  may  be  constructed  in  groups,  they  must 
eventually  be  disposed  of  to  the  individual  and  obligations  for  payment 
assumed  by  the  individual  borrower.  Architects,  building  contractors, 
and  material  supply  concerns  have  only  been  interested  in  the  local 
building  and  loan  movement  to  a  very  nominal  extent.  I  believe,  that 
a  wider  general  understanding  of  possibilities  of  working  together 
would  be  of  mutual  advantage,  as  their  interests  are  centered  in  the 
same  individual, — the  home  builder.  Yet  each  is  dependent  on  the 
other.  If  the  prospective  home-builders  cannot  secure  loans  on  terms 
within  their  income,  they  cannot  get  funds  to  build  with,  and  neither 
builders  nor  supply  men  will  have  orders  for  their  commodities.  There- 
fore their  extension  is  of  service  to: 


70  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

First:  The  home-builder,  who  obtains  a  loan  to  build  on  terms  of 
repayment  that  make  it  possible  for  him  to  build,  and  eventuallly  at  a 
cost  less  than  commercial  interest  rates. 

Second :     Contractors  and  material  houses  receive  contracts  to  fill. 

Third:  The  Building  and  Loan  Association,  in  extending  its 
service  to  inculcate  thrift  and  home-ownership  by  securing  borrowing 
and  investing  members. 

Fourth:  The  community  in  acquiring  taxable  invested  wealth, 
and  a  home-owning  self  supporting  citizen. 

The  U.  S.  Department  of  Labor  found  the  situation  sufficiently 
serious  to  warrant  a  complete  study  of  the  most  practical  methods  to  be 
recommended  in  extending  necessary  credit  to  wage-earners  for  build- 
ing homes.  After  a  thorough  investigation  of  all  types  of  mortgage  loan 
institutions  the  conclusion  was  that  the  U.  S.  League  of  Local  Building 
and  Loan  Associations  represented  the  type  of  institution  best  adapted 
to  supply  the  credit  to  the  average  home-builder  on  the  most  economical 
plan,  and  also,  that  adequate  facilities  to  accommodate  the  financing 
of  anticipated  building,  was  at  hand  in  almost  every  state  through  the 
medium  of  building  and  loan  associations. 

As  a  result  of  a  meeting  of  leading  building  and  loan  representa- 
tives called  by  the  Department  of  Labor,  at  which  it  was  sought  to  deter- 
mine how  the  building  and  loan  associations  of  the  country  might  assist 
in  stimulating  the  building  of  more  homes,  a  plan  was  evolved  to  pro- 
vide for  a  system  of  Federal  Building  Loan  Banks,  the  details  of  which 
are  contained  in  a  bill  now  before  Congress.  In  a  general  way  the  bill 
follows  the  Federal  Loan  Act  established  to  meet  the  financial  needs  of 
the  owners  of  farm  lands,  and  the  Federal  Reserve  Act,  which  provides 
for  the  financial  requirements  of  the  National  and  State  Banks  and 
trust  companies.  There  is  this  important  difference,  however,  between 
Federal  Farm  Loan  Banks  and  proposed  Federal  Building-Loan  Banks : 
In  the  Farm  Loan  Act  there  is  a  provision  for  the  secretary-treasurer 
to  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Farm  Loan  Banks,  with  funds 
from  the  United  States  Treasury.  The  capital  stock  of  Federal  Build- 
ing-Loan Banks  is  to  be  subscribed  for  only  by  the  building  and  loan 
associations  in  the  several  districts,  so  that  not  a  dollar  of  the  public 
funds  will  be  required  to  finance  these  proposed  banks.  The  building 
and  loan  associations  will  simply  be  placed  in  a  position  where  they 
will  be  able  to  help  themselves.  The  Federal  Building  Loan  Banks  are 
to  supply  the  financial  needs  of  the  building  and  loan  associations  for 
long-time  funds  by  issuing  tax-free  bonds  against  first  mortgages  on 
loans  deposited  with  them,  25  per  cent  in  excess  of  the  loan  requested. 
This  will  make  liquid  the  mortgage  assets  of  these  associations  and  will 
enable  them  to  provide  such  additional  amounts  of  money  to  members 
for  home-building  purposes. 

We  feel  that  we  are  justified  in  requesting  for  the  wage-earners 
what  Congress  has  already  enacted  for  the  farmer  and  for  the  business 
man.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  United  States  League  of  Local 
Building  and  Loan  Associations,  the  proposed  legislation  was  consid- 
ered and  very  fully  discussed  by  the  delegates  representing  state  leagues 
in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  the  convention  indorsed  and  ap- 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  71 

proved  the  movement  inaugurated  by  the  Department  of  Labor,  which 
resulted  in  the  introduction  of  S.  2492  and  H.  R.  7597,  known  as  the 
Calder-Nolan  Bill  now  before  Congress. 

We  feel  warranted  in  saying  that  the  building  and  loan  associa- 
tions of  the  United  States  can,  through  the  medium  of  a  bill  like  this,  if 
enacted,  be  successfully  employed  in  relieving  much  of  the  shortage 
which  now  exists  for  funds  for  home  building  purposes. 

Cooperation  with  the  business  people  of  every  community  should 
be  the  aim  of  the  Building  and  Loan  Associations  to  broaden  their  sphere 
and  growth  and  enable  them  to  become  the  acknowledged  national  home- 
building  financing  medium. 

EEMARKS. 

K.  V.  Haymaker:  You  are  not  interested  in  Building  &  Loan 
Associations  as  an  institution  unless  the  institution  comes  to  you  and 
helps  you  in  your  business.  I  want  to  tell  you  how  they  can  be  of 
efficient  aid  to  you. 

This  building  proposition  finally  resolves  itself  into  one  of  finance — 
where  is  the  money  coming  from  that  is  going  to  pay  for  buildings  that 
must  be  supplied  to  the  country?  The  building  program  looms  larger 
than  it  ever  did  before,  and  at  the  same  time  the  amount  of  money  avail- 
able to  finance  it  is  being  sei'iously  curtailed.  There  is  just  one  type 
of  financial  institution  in  this  country  that  devotes  all  of  its  resources 
and  confines  all  of  its  activities  to  building  homes,  and  that  is  the  Build- 
ing &  Loan  Association.  Mortgages  are  taken  by  other  institutions  like 
state  banks  and  savings  banks  and  trust  companies,  but  they  are  not 
going  to  invest  in  that  kind  of  securities  to  the  same  extent  in  the  future 
as  they  have  in  the  past  for  this  reason. 

The  Federal  Reserve  banking  system  has  been  organized  to  handle 
short-time  credits,  that  is  the  kind  of  paper  on  which  the  commercial 
and  industrial  and  transportation  business  of  the  country  is  conducted. 
When  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  was  first  organized,  the  plan  was  that 
it  should  affiliate  only  with  the  national  banks  of  the  country,  but  in 
the  few  short  years  that  have  passed  since  the  Federal  Reserve  Act  went 
into  effect,  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  the  resources  of  the  national 
banks  of  the  country  are  not  sufficient  to  finance  the  country's  business. 
As  a  result,  there  is  today  a  well-defined  movement  being  carried  out 
quite  extensively  to  induce  state  banks,  trust  companies  and  savings 
banks  to  affiliate  with  the  Federal  Reserve  system.  The  reason  for  this 
is  that  it  gives  such  institutions  the  opportunity  to  rediscount  their 
short-time  commercial  paper  with  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank. 

Today,  I  think  that  ''call  money"  is  worth  on  the  New  York  market 
from  16  to  25  per  cent.  Why  should  a  bank  invest  its  money  in  long- 
time 6  per  cent  mortgages  when  it  can  lend  it  at  the  Stock  Exchange  at 
25  per  cent  ? 

This  affiliating  with  the  Federal  Reserve  banking  system  gives  these 
other  banking  institutions  an  opportunity  to  handle  commercial  paper 
in  larger  volume  because  they  can  rediscount  it  with  the  Federal  Reserve 
Bank  and  they  cannot  rediscount  mortgages  because  they  represent  long- 


72  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

time  paper,  which  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  will  not  accept  as  collateral 
for  loans.  For  that  reason,  as  these  institutions  go  into  the  short-time 
credit  business,  they  will  to  that  extent  curtail  their  investments  in 
mortgages  and  very  serious  curtailment  will  follow  in  the  amount  of 
money  which  those  institutions  will  invest  in  any  long-time  mortgages. 

Emphasis  has  been  laid  upon  the  necessity  for  some  plan  by  which 
the  gap  could  be  bridged  between  the  amount  that  can  be  raised  on  the 
fii*st  mortgage  and  the  amount  of  money  which  the  home  buyer  or  builder 
has  at  his  command  to  invest  in  the  home,  and  the  limit  has  been  fixed 
that  the  home  buyer  or  builder  should  have  at  least  a  10  per  cent  equity 
before  he  can  negotiate  a  loan  or  finance  his  building.  A  10  per  cent 
equity  is  small,  yet  we  sometimes  hear  it  suggested  that  the  great  need 
for  home  building  should  be  satisfied  by  furnishing  a  man  a  home  and 
letting  him  pay  for  the  whole  transaction  on  installments.  Do  you  know 
of  any  business  that  a  man  can  go  into  without  money  or  credit?  Do 
you  know  where  he  can  start  a  shoe  shining  parlor  or  peanut  stand 
without  money  or  credit  ?  I  don 't.  Then  why  should  we  expect  a  man 
to  be  able  to  buy  a  home  without  money  or  credit?  A  man  who  has 
proved  by  his  thriftiness  that  he  has  the  ability  to  save  money,  has 
earned  the  right  to  credit,  but  his  saving  should  be  at  least  10  per  cent 
of  the  proposed  investment. 

In  financing  home  building,  I  believe  that  a  safe  risk  on  a  first 
mortgage  is  higher  than  60  per  cent  to  a  man  of  good  character,  with  a 
steady  job  and  a  fair  income.  I  believe  that  75  or  80  per  cent  credit  is 
absolutely  safe  with  a  man  of  that  character  providing  the  property  in 
question  is  suited  to  his  condition  in  life  and  of  a  value  where  the  mort- 
gage burden  of  monthly  payments  is  within  his  income.  In  New  Jersey 
the  law  limits  the  amount  of  money  which  a  building  association  can 
loan  to  80  per  cent  of  the  compressed  value. 

Here  is  a  suggestion  by  which  a  combination  of  finance  companies 
and  building  and  loan  associations  can  finance  the  entire  loan : 

A  home  financing  company  or  house  building  company  is  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  stimulating  home  building.  That  is  just  the  line  of 
work  a  building  and  loan  association  is  doing.  If  they  take  the  capital 
which  they  gather  and  invest  it,  that  is,  just  deposit  it  in  the  building 
and  loan  association,  they  know  that  it  will  be  used  for  the  purpose  of 
financing  home  building.  Suppose  this  finance  corporation  has  deposited 
$50,000  in  the  building  and  loan  association.  Along  comes  a  man  who 
wants  to  buy  a  home  who  has  10  per  cent.  The  building  association 
wanting  to  safely  invest  the  small  earings  of  its  depositors  and  taking 
good  care  that  they  shall  be  safely  invested,  says :  ' '  We  will  lend  him 
60  per  cent."  The  housing  corporation  comes  in  and  says,  ''We  have 
$50,000."  That  makes  30  per  cent,  so  on  a  thousand  dollar  home  that 
means  $300  of  a  margin  that  has  to  be  bridged — a  gap  that  must  be 
filled.  We  will  take  $1,200  of  this  stock  in  your  building  association  and 
sign  it  to  the  building  and  loan  association  as  collateral  for  this  bor- 
rower's loan.  You  make  him  the  loan  to  the  full  90  per  cent  and  we 
will  put  up  as  collateral  the  $1,200.  As  a  result,  at  each  settlement  with 
the  building  association  which  it  makes  with  the  borrower,  the  building 
corporation  which  has  put  up  the  collateral,  is  permitted  to  take  down 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  73 

that  portion  of  it  hypothecated  on  his  debt  in  excess  of  the  interest. 
That  is  repeated  with  each  individual  that  comes  along  to  borrow.  In 
that  way  the  housing  corporation  can  finance  the  building  of  homes 
without  any  more  risk  than  they  are  taking  on  the  plan  suggested. 
They  are  helping  the  building  and  loan  association,  they  have  an  invest- 
ment that  is  drawing  dividends  at  the  regular  dividend  rate  paid  by 
the  association  as  long  as  their  money  is  invested  and  it  is  only  when 
the  borrower  falls  down  that  they  are  compelled  to  come  in  and  assume 
that  mortgage  or  find  another  borrower  for  the  property  and  protect 
their  investment. 

Just  another  suggestion.  While  you  are  building  homes  you  have 
more  or  less  influence  over  the  type  of  house  you  are  building.  See  that 
the  houses  are  built  right.  Get  away  from  the  square  box-car  type — the 
shanty.  Encourage  people  who  are  borrowing  money  and  building 
homes  to  make  them  habitable,  neat,  attractive  and  possessed  of  the 
conveniences  of  life. 

In  most  cases  the  profit  of  the  financing  corporations  operating  as 
I  have  suggested  is  limited  to  the  dividends  which  are  paid  on  the  stock 
that  they  put  up  as  collateral.  It  is  done  usually  as  an  accommodation. 
Sometimes  they  insist  on  a  bonus  from  the  borrower  that  has  taken 
out  a  part  of  the  loan  and  paid  to  the  corporation  something  on  the 
principle  suggested  by  Mr.  Allen,  where  they  use  a  service  charge  of 
$300  per  house,  or  something  of  that  order. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  building  and  loan  associations  have  the  word 
"building"  in  their  name.  It  is  a  relic  of  bygone  days,  since  they  do 
not  do  any  building.  More  nearly  correct  designation  would  be  to  call 
them  "Savings  and  Loan  Associations,"  for  that  is  what  they  really 
encourage  and  do. 


74  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


VARIOUS  PLANS  FOR  FINANCING  PERMANENT 

HOMES 

PENNSYLVANIA  STATE  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  HOUSING  BUREAU 

Plan  Numbee  One 
Community  Companies 

1.  Capitalization. — The  capital  funds  of  the  Financing  Company  to  be 
raised  by  public  sale  of  certificates  of  stock.  Subscriptions  to  be-  made  by 
individuals,  estates,  commercial  and  industrial  interests.  Fifty  per  cent  of  the 
authorized  capital  to  be  subscribed  immediately  and  to  be  subject  to  call  on 
reasonable  notice. 

2.  First  Mortgage. — The  home  seeker  to  place  a  first  mortgage  with  an 
individual,  estate  or  lending  institution.  The  Financing  Company  to  approve 
and  assist  in  placing  the  mortgage.  The  mortgage  to  be  for  an  amount  equal 
to  at  least  60  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot. 

3.  Second  Mortgage. — A  second  mortgage  to  be  assumed  by  the  Financing 
Company  for  an  amount  not  in  excess  of  30  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  of  the 
home  including  the  improved  lot. 

4.  Initial  Payment. — The  home  seeker  applying  for  the  loan  to  have  in 
cash,  land  or  its  equivalent  an  amount  not  less  than  10  per  cent  of  the  total 
cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot.  This  payment  to  be  made  to  the 
Financing  Company  at  the  time  the  loan  is  negotiated. 

5.  Liquidation. — Monthly  installment  payments  in  amount  not  less  than 
1  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot,  to  be 
made  to  the  Financing  Company  by  the  home  seeker  to  meet  the  interest 
charges,  to  retire  the  second  mortgage  and  eventually  to  retire  the  first  mort- 
gage. 

6.  Revolving  Fund. — The  release  of  the  Financing  Company  funds  due  to 
the  retirement  of  the  second  mortgage  by  the  installment  payments  to  be  avail- 
able for  re-investment. 

7.  Income. — The  gross  income  is  estimated  to  be  6  per  cent,  of  the  invested 
capital.  After  deduction  of  expenses,  such  as  salaries,  office  rent,  etc.,  the  net 
income  of  the  Financing  Company  is  estimated  to  be  from  4  to  5  per  cent  if 
the  capital  is  fully  invested. 

Plan  Numbee  Two 

Community  Companies 

1.  Capitalization. — The  capital  funds  of  the  Financing  Company  to  be 
raised  by  subscription  by  commercial  and  industrial  interests.  Fifty  per  cent 
of  the  authorized  capital  to  be  subscribed  immediately  and  to  be  subject  to 
pajinent  in  specific  amounts  at  certain  definite  periodic  intervals. 

2.  First  Mortgage. — The  Financing  Company  to  assume  at  the  prevailing 
interest  rate  a  first  mortgage  equal  in  amount  to  not  less  than  60  per  cent  of 
the  total  cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot. 

3.  Second  Mortgage. — The  Financing  Company  to  assume  at  the  prevailing 
interest  rate  a  second  mortgage  equal  in  amount  to  not  more  than  30  per  cent 
of  the  total  cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot. 

4.  Initial  Payment. — The  home  seeker  applying  for  the  loan  to  have  in 
cash,  land  or  its  equivalent  an  amount  not  less  than  10  per  cent  of  the  total 
cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot.  This  payment  to  be  made  to 
the  Financing  Company  at  the  time  the  loan  is  negotiated. 

5.  Liquidation. — Installment  payments  to  be  made  monthly  by  the  home 
builder  at  a  rate  of  not  less  than  1  per  cent  of  the  amount  advanced.  The 
payments  to  begin  when  the  loan  is  made. 

6.  Revolving    Fund. — The    Financing  Company  to   sell   trust  notes  to  in- 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  75 

vestors,  pledging  the  mortgages  as  collateral,   thus  constantly   securing  addi- 
tional funds  of  increasing  effectiveness  for  re-investment. 

7.  Income. — The  net  income  will  depend  largely  ui)on  the  rapidity  of  re- 
investing the  Financing  Company's  funds.  It  is  estimated  not  to  exceed  6  per 
centum  of  the  invested  capital. 

Plan  Number  Three 

Community  Companies 

1.  Capitalization. — The  capital  tunds  of  the  Financing  Company  to  be 
raised  as  described  in  Plan  No.  1,  Certificates  of  paid  up  stock  in  one  or 
more  approved  building  and  loan  associations  to  be  purchased  as  fast  as  the 
capital  funds  are  received. 

2.  First  Mortgage. — The  home  seeker,  with  the  assistance  of  the  Financing 
Company,  to  place  a  first  mortgage  with  a  building  and  loan  association  in  which 
the  Financing  Company  holds  stock  certificates.  The  amount  of  this  mortgage 
to  be  not  less  than  60  per  cent  of  the  total  funds  required. 

3.  Second  Mortgage. — The  second  mortgage  as  such  does  not  enter  into 
this  plan  but  appears  in  different  form.  In  case  the  building  and  loan  associa- 
tion is  prevented  from  assuming  the  degree  of  risk  represented  by  the  differ- 
ence between  the  amount  of  the  initial  payment  of  the  home  seeker  and  the 
total  loan,  then  the  Financing  Company  will  assign  to  the  building  and  loan 
association  certificates  of  paid  up  stock  of  the  building  and  loan  association 
held  by  the  Financing  Company.  The  amount  of  this  assignment  to  equal  the 
difference  between  the  loan  assumed  by  the  building  and  loan  association  and 
the   sum  required   by   the   home   seeker. 

4.  Initial  Payment. — The  applicant  to  make  an  initial  payment  to  the  build- 
ing and  loan  association  at  the  time  the  loan  is  negotiated.  This  payment  to 
be  not  less  tlian  10  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  of  the  home  and  improved  lot. 

5.  Liquidation. — The  home  seeker  to  make  monthly  installment  payments 
to  the  building  and  loan  association  in  amount  equal  to  not  less  than  1  per 
cent  of  the  funds  advanced.  A  portion  of  these  payments  to  apply  against 
the  interest  charges  and  the  balance  to  release  the  paid  up  certificates  assigned 
to  the  building  and  loan  association  by  the  Financing  Company. 

6.  Revolving  Fund. — The  Financing  Company  funds  to  be  released  for  re- 
investment by  applying  the  installment  payments  against  the  certificates  of 
paid  up  stock  held  by  the  Financing  Company.  As  these  certificates  of  paid  u|) 
stock  are  released  they  become  immediately  available  for  furthering  new  loans. 

7.  Income. — The  gross  income  of  the  Financing  Company  will  amount  to 
the  rate  of  interest  paid  by  the  building  and  loan  association  on  the  paid  up 
certificates  of  stock. 


Plan  Number  Four 

Community  Companies 

1.  Capitalization. — The  capital  funds  of  the  Financing  Company  to  be 
raised  by  public  sale  of  certificates  of  stock  at  a  par  value  not  to  exceed  $100. 
Subscriptions  to  be  made  by  individuals,  estates,  commercial  and  industrial 
interests.  Ten  per  cent  of  the  total  amount  subscribed  to  be  paid  at  the 
time  of  subscription   and   the   balance   in  periodic   installments. 

2.  First  Mortgage. — The  home  seeker  to  place  a  first  mortgage  equal  to 
not  less  than  60  per  cent,  of  the  total  funds  required,  with  any  one  of  a 
number  of  lending  institutions  approved  and  recommended  by  the  Financing 
Company. 

3.  Second  Mortgage. — The  Financing  Company  to  take  as  collateral  a  land 
contract  to  cover  the  amount  required  to  bridge  over  tb'e  difference  between  the 
first  mortgage  plus  the  initial  payment  and  the  total  loan.  In  this  plan  the  home 
seeker  is  required  to  purchase  a  lot  on  his  own  terms. 

4.  Initial  Payment. — The  home  seeker  to  hold  as  equity  in  a  lot  an  amount 
equal  to  at  least  10  per  cent  of  the  total  funds  to  be  advanced. 


76  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

5.  Liquidation. — The  home  seeker  to  pay  to  the  Financing  Company  each 
month  an  amount  equal  to  not  less  than  1  per  cent,  of  the  cost  of  the  house. 
These  payments  to  retire  the  loan  advanced  by  the  Financing  Company,  at 
which  time  the  land  contract  will  be  terminated  and  the  home  builder  given  a 
deed  to  the  property.  In  addition  the  borrower  is  also  required  to  meet  the 
interest  charges  of  the  first  mortgage,  to  pay  the  taxes  and  to  carry  fire  in- 
surance. 

6.  Revolving  Fund. — The  Financing  Company  to  secure  funds  for  re-invest- 
ment by  negotiating  loans  and  offering  the  land  contracts  as  security. 

7.  Income. — The  estimated  gross  income  with  the  capital  fully  invested 
to  be  5  to  6  per  cent  per  annum. 

Plan  Number  Five 

Industbial  Companies  (No.  1) 

1.  Capitalization. — Capital  funds  to  be  appropriated  by  the  company  or  com 
panies  entering  into  the  housing  project. 

2.  First  Mortgage. — In  lieu  of  a  first  mortgage  a  demand  note  at  the 
current  rate  of  interest  is  given  by  the  employe  to  the  company  for  the 
customary  first  mortgage  amount. 

3.  Second  Mortgage. — In  lieu  of  a  second  mortgage  the  employe  gives  a 
time  note  to  the  company.  This  time  note  to  be  payable  after  a  number  of 
years  at  the  current  rate  of  interest.  For  example,  a  $1,000  note  payable  in 
12  years  with  interest  at  5  per  cent. 

4.  Initial  Payment. — The  employe  is  required  to  make  a  payment  of  not 
less  than  10  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  of  the  house,  including  the  improved  lot 
at  the  time  the  loan  is  negotiated. 

5.  Liquidation. — The  employe  agrees  to  purchase  the  requisite  number  of 
shares  in  a  building  and  loan  association  or  other  approved  lending  institution 
upon  which  periodic  installment  payments  are  made  so  that  the  deposits  at 
the  current  rate  of  interest  will  have  matured  in  a  sum  equal  to  the  face 
value  of  the  time  note  at  the  date  set  for  payment  of  the  time  note.  The 
employe  also  agrees  to  carry  the  loan  by  making  monthly  interest  payments  to 
the  company  on  the  demand  and  time  notes.  The  company  agrees  not  to 
act  upon  the  demand  note  as  long  as  the  employe  continues  to  fulfill  his  part 
of  the  agreement;  that  is,  to  make  monthly  interest  payments  to  the  company 
and  monthly  payments  to  the  lending  institution. 

6.  Insurance  Benefit. — If  the  employe  should  die  or  become  incapacitated 
within  the  payment  time  of  the  time  note,  provided  that  in  the  event  of  death 
the  employe  is  not  over  sixty  years  of  age,  the  company  will  accept  the  cash 
surrender  value  of  the  shares  of  the  lending  institution  as  full  payment  of  the 
time  note.  The  property  will  then  be  free  from  all  incumbrances  except  the 
amount  of  the  demand  note,  which,  at  the  option  of  the  employe  or  his  heirs^ 
may  be  transferred  as  a  first  mortgage  to  a  lending  institution. 

Plan  Number   Six 

Industrial  Companies  (No.  2) 

1.  Capitalization. — Capital  funds  to  be  provided  by  the  company  or  com- 
panies interested. 

2.  First  Mortgage. — The  company  will  assist  the  employe  in  placing  a 
first  mortgage  with  a  lending  institution  to  cover  at  least  60  per  cent  of  the 
total  funds  required. 

3.  Second  Mortgage. — In  lieu  of  a  second  mortgage  a  time  note  is  given 
by  the  employe  to  the  company  for  an  amount  equal  to  the  difference  between 
the  first  mortgage  plus  the  initial  payment  and  the  total  funds  required. 

4.  Initial  Payment. — The  employe  is  required  to  make  a  payment  of  not 
less  than  10  per  cent  of  the  total  cost  of  the  home,  including  the  improved  lot 
at  the  time  the  loan  is  negotiated. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  77 

5.  Liquidation. — The  employe  agrees  to  purchase  a  combination  "life-acci- 
dent" insurance  policy  and  to  maintain  same  in  force  until  paid  up,  at  which 
time  the  cash  surrender  value  will  be  used  to  liquidate  the  time  note  and  pos- 
sibly a  portion  of  the  demand  note.  The  employe  is  required  to  make  monthly 
interest  payments  to  the  lending  institution  and  to  pay  taxes  and  carry  fire 
insurance. 

6.  Insurance  Benefit. — In  the  event  of  death  of  the  employe  or  injury  to 
the  extent  of  causing  partial  or  total  disability  the  compensation  paid  by  the 
insurance  company  will  be  available  to  pay  off  the  time  note  and  possibly  a 
portion  of  the  demand  note.  The  property  will  then  be  free  of  all  incumbrances 
except  the  first  mortgage. 

THE    CHICAGO    PLAN 

The  Chicago  Housing  Association  has  worked  out  an  idea  new  to  realty. 
This  idea  leads  to  the  Americanization  of  the  foreign  workmen  and  at  the  same 
time  to  a  solution  of  the  city's  housing  problem.  In  large,  manufacturing 
and  industrial  centers,  these  two  elements  go  hand  in  hand.  To  make  the  idea 
effective,  the  management  is  cooperating  with  the  social  service  and  welfare 
departments  of  a  number  of  industries,  especially  those  of  the  stock  yards,  in 
which  area  the  housing  problem  of  Chicago  is  at  its  worst.  Workmen  will  be 
encouraged  to  apply  for  a  new  house,  but  will  not  be  allowed  to  purchase  a 
place  unless  his  present  quarters  are  unfit  for  family  life.  Reports  on  the 
present  living  conditions  will  be  made  by  expert  investigators.  If  the  report  is 
satisfactory,  that  is  if  the  living  conditions  are  unsatisfactory,  a  contract  will 
be  drawn  and  the  house  sold  on  the  basis  of  a  10  per  cent  initial  payment; 
the  balance  to  be  paid  off  in  monthly  installments  extending  over  15  years. 

As  a  part  of  the  consideration  for  selling  these  houses  so  cheaply  (prac- 
tically giving  the  valuable  lot  on  which  the  house  stands)  the  buyer  agrees  not 
to  resell  the  property  except  by  the  permission  of  the  seller.  If  a  man  changes 
his  employment  and  desires  to  move  from  Chicago,  the  Association  has  the  first 
oi.Hion  on  the  property,  being  privileged  to  return  to  him  the  money  paid  and 
to  resell  to  another  party  found  eligible  under  the  above  conditions.  Specula- 
tion will  thus  be  prevented  and  the  benefit  of  increased  value  bestowed  upon 
the  persistent  man  who  sticks  to  his  determination  to  become  a  home  owner. 
To  make  sure  that  each  family  shall  have  a  home  in  the  event  of  the  death  of 
the  bread  winner  an  insurance  policy  low  in  cost  and  with  decreasing  premium 
is  secured  for  each  buyer.  Part  of  each  monthly  installment  paid  will  apply 
on  the  insurance  premium  and  in  event  of  death  the  property  is  immediately 
deeded  to  the  heirs. 

THE  INDIAN  HILL  COMPANY  PLAN 
Worcester,  Mass. 

The  Indian  Hill  Co.  require  from  the  purchaser  of  a  home  an  initial  pay- 
ment of  10  per  cent  of  the  purchase  price  whereupon  the  conveyance  of  the 
property  is  made.  For  the  remainder  of  the  purchase  price,  the  purchaser 
gives  two  notes,  one  for  $1,000  payable  in  12  years  at  5  per  cent  and  the  other 
for  the  balance  of  the  purchase  price  payable  on  demand  with  interest  at  5  per 
cent,  both  notes  being  secured  by  a  purchase  mortgage. 

The  purchaser  also  gives  a  supplementary  agreement  to  'the  effect  that 
he  will  purchase  five  shares  in  a  cooperative  bank,  continuing  payment  therein 
until  his  deposits  shall  have  matured  in  the  sum  of  $1,000,  which  in  local 
banks,  at  the  prevailing  rate  of  interest,  takes  place  in  about  12  years.  This 
insures  the  payment  of  the  12  year  note  according  to  its  terms.  It  gives  the 
purchaser  a  feeling  of  independence  inasmuch  as  he  does  not  make  periodical 
payments  on  the  principal  to  the  company  and  also  enables  him  to  become 
familiar  with  cooperative  bank  methods. 

In  consideration  of  the  buyer's  agreement,  the  company  agrees  not  to  call 
the  demand  note  as  long  as  the  purchaser  continues  to  make  monthly  pay- 
ments in  accordance  with  his  agreement  to  the  cooperative  bank.  The  company 
further  agrees  that  if  he  should  die  or  become  incapacitated  within  12  years, 
providing  that  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  shall  not  be  over  60  years  of  age. 


78  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

they  will  accept  the  surrender  of  his  cooperative  bank  shares  in  full  payment 
of  the  time  note.  The  result  of  this  agreement  is  that  the  purchaser  may  be 
assured  that  at  the  end  of  12  years  or  upon  his  death  a  sufficient  proportion 
of  the  purchase  price  will  have  been  paid  so  that  he  or  the  heirs  of  his  estate 
will  then  have  an  equity  in  the  property  of  practically  40  per  cent.  At  his 
option  he  may  resort  to  a  bank  for  a  mortgage  and  be  entirely  independent 
of  the  company. 

The  company  gives  to  the  purchaser  a  schedule  showing  the  required 
monthly  payments.  The  following  table  is  a  reproduction  of  one  which  was 
given  to  a  purchaser  and  illustrates  this  method  of  financing: 

Total  purchase  price  $3,851.50 

First  payment,  10  per  cent 385.15 

Borrowed  on  mortgage  the  balance 3,466.35 

Amount  due  in  12  years  secured  by  time  note 1,000.00 

The  balance  secured  by  demand  note 2,466.35 

Monthly  interest  during  first  12  years 14.45 

Monthly  payment  to  cooperative  bank 5.00 

Total  payment  during  first  12  years 19.45 

Monthly  interest  payment  after  12  years 10.30 

THE  GOODYEAR  RUBBER  CO.  PLAN 

Akron,    Ohio 

The  Goodyear  Co.  in  their  housing  work  at  Akron  plan  to  place  two 
mortgages  on  the  property,  the  first  for  about  one-half  the  valuation  of  the 
property  carried  by  an  insurance  company  and  the  second  for  the  balance  car 
ried  by  the  Goodyear  Co.  It  is  not  necessary  to  make  any  payment  down  when 
the  property  is  purchased.  Payments  are  made  semi-monthly,  which  takes 
care  of  the  second  mortgage  in  12  years  and  the  first  mortgage  three  years 
later,  the  rate  of  interest  being  6  per  cent  per  annum.  These  periods  are 
the  maximum  time  allowed  to  pay  for  the  property,  but  provision  is  made  to 
allow  extra  payments  to  be  made  if  desired  as  well  as  preliminary  payments 
down.  The  purchaser  has  the  option  of  taking  a  diminishing  life  insurance 
policy  with  an  insurance  company  which  in  case  of  death  will  pay  one  or  both 
of  the  mortgages  depending  upon  the  amount  of  insurance  taken.  The  in- 
surance company  have  made  an  attractive  group  insurance  proposition  which 
brings  the  cost  of  this  feature  to  a  very  low  figure  and  has  made  the  purchasing 
plan  very  popular. 

PLANS  ADOPTED  BY  HOUSING  COMMITTEE  OF  HARTFORD  CHAMBER 
OF  COMMERCE,  DECEMBER  29,  1919,  FOR  MEETING  HOUSING  NEEDS 
IN  HARTFORD. 

Stockholders  are  to  consist  solely  of  employers,  employing  over  25  em- 
ployees. Each  employer  to  subscribe  for  not  more  than  $75  of  capital  stock 
per  employee. 

The  activities  of  the  corporation  are  to  follow  two  distinct  lines  in  pro- 
viding housing  accommodations:  1.  By  assisting  employees  in  building  houses 
on  their  own  account  and  in  accordance  with  their  own  plans.  2.  By  building 
houses  on  separate  lots  in  various  parts  ot  the  city  to  be  sold  to  employees. 

In  assisting  employees  in  the  construction  of  houses  on  their  own  account 
the  corporation  will  furnish  the  employee  advice  and  help  in  purchasing  a  lot 
and  in  the  preparation  of  plans.  The  corporation  will  employ  a  competent  archi 
tect  or  builder  to  assist  in  letting  contract,  supervise  building  construction,  and 
to  protect  owner.  Corporation  to  advance  required  payment  to  contractor,  taking 
as  security  for  such  advancement  a  temporary  mortgage  from  owner  of  lot  at 
6  per  cent  interest.  Building  materials  to  be  purchased  at  wholesale  by  cor- 
poration and   supplied  to  contractor  at   cost. 

Financial  assistance  after  completion  of  building  will  be  given  employees, 
by  securing  first  mortgage  on  the  completed  house  from  bank  or  insurance  com- 
pany at  lowest  price  possible  and  advancing  balance  of  cost  on  second  mortgage 
at  6  per  cent  interest,  less  10  per  cent  of  total  cost,  which  amount  is  to  be 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  79 

paid  by  employee.  Buyer  to  pay  at  least  9/10  of  1  per  cent  of  total  cost  to 
corporation  monthly  to  cover  payment  of  taxes,  assessments,  insurance,  interest 
and  reduction  of  second  mortgage  until  second  mortgage  is  paid  in  full. 

As  an  alternative  method  of  assisting  employees  the  corporation  will  take 
title  to  lot  on  request  of  employee,  build  a  house  thereon  as  desired  by  employee 
and  when  completed  re-deed  to  employee  at  cost  with  interest  at  6  per  cent  on 
all  advancements  from  date  of  same  to  date  of  reconveyance  to  employee;  pay- 
ment to  be  made  in  same  manner  as  above. 

Activity  of  corporation  for  building  houses  for  sale  will  include  purchase 
of  lots  in  various  parts  of  the  city  within  convenient  distance  of  plants  of  stock- 
holders and  erect  two-family  houses  at  a  total  cost  of  lot  and  building  not 
exceeding  $8,000  each;  and  shall  secure  a  mortgage  on  them  for  50  per  cent  of 
total  cost  and  shall  then  sell  them  to  employees  of  stockholders  at  reasonable 
market  value.     Method  of  payments  is  the  same  as  described  above. 

FLINT   HOUSING   CORPORATION 

The  plan  of  action  proposed  by  the  Flint  Housing  Corporation  is  to  acquire 
vacant  property  in  the  localities  where  homes  are  the  most  needed,  building 
thereon  and  continuing  as  the  funds  permit. 

The  specific  aims  will  be  to  construct  homes  at  a  low  cost  for  those  who 
would  not  be  able  to  secure  them  through  ordinary  commercial  channels.  The 
homes  will  be  sold  on  an  initial  payment  as  low  as  10  per  cent  and  a  further 
payment  of  1  per  cent  per  month.  The  title  to  all  property  acquired  will  remain 
in  the  corporation  until  such  time  as  a  sufficient  amount  has  been  paid  to 
warrant  the  issuance   of   a  deed. 

HOUSE  FINANCING  CORPORATION  OF  DETROIT 

The  method  of  apportioning  the  stock  subscriptions  on  a  fair  and  equitable 
basis  adopted  and  found  satisfactory  is  as  follows:  The  manufacturer  or  busi- 
ness man  subscribes  on  the  basis  of  the  number  of  men  and  women  employed: 

The  first  500  or  any  part,  at  $25  per  employee. 

The  next  501  to  1,000  at  $20  per  employee. 

The  next  1,001  to  5,000  at  $15  per  employee. 

The  next  5,001  to  20,000  at  $12.50  per  employee. 

The  next  over  20,000  at  $10.00  per  employee. 

The  method  of  operation  adopted  includes  three  general  classes  of  busi- 
ness, known  as:  1.  The  Banking  Plan.  2.  The  Operation  Plan.  3.  The 
Contractor's  Financing  Plan. 

The  banking  plan  takes  care  of  those  applicants  who  own  their  own  lots 
or  have  in  mind  the  purchase  of  a  certain  lot  in  some  specific  locality.  The 
corporation  loans  up  to  about  80  per  cent  of  the  total  amount  involved  in  the 
transaction  as  represented  by  the  combined  appraised  value  of  lot  and  cost  of 
the  home,  whereas  banks  and  trust  companies  loan  up  to  only  50  per  cent  of 
the  improved  property.  The  corporation  assumes  the  entire  financing,  planning, 
directing  and  inspection  of  the  operation  to  the  point  where  the  client  is  notified 
that  his  house  is  ready  for  occupancy.  The  client  pays  for  expenses  incurred 
at  the  rate  of  $67.50  per  thousand  dollars  on  the  cost  of  the  completed  house. 

The  corporation  arranges  for  the  payment  of  same  by  the  client  within 
the  first  year  and  the  amount  of  payment  is  covered  either  in  a  separate  note 
payable  in  monthly  installments,  which  sum  is  in  addition  to  the  regular  con- 
tract monthly  payment  against  capital  and  interest,  or  in  cash  at  time  of  sign- 
ing contract. 

In  the  Oi>eration  Plan  adopted  to  get  more  houses  erected  more  quickly,  the 
corporation  purchases  a  number  of  lots  en  bloc,  located  in  the  various  sections 
of  the  city  contiguous  to  manufacturing  plants  and  transportation  facilities. 
Upon  each  block  of  lots  the  corporation  erects  groups  of  houses  simultaneously 
to  secure  every  advantage  gained  in  quantity  production.  The  selling  plans  are 
similar  to  those  previously  outlined  under  the  banking  plan,  although  smaller 
monthly  payments  are  required. 


80 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


Individuality  as  well  as  permanence  is  secured  with  concrete  construction;  no  two  houses  of 
this  type  need  be  alike.  Above,  a  street  of  stucco  finished  concrete  block  houses  at 
Indianapolis.      Below,   exposed   aggregate,   concrete   block  residence   at   Park  Ridge,   Ills. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  81 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  FINANCING 
PERMANENT  HOMES 

I— FEDERAL  LEGISLATION 
Need  for  Legislative  Action 

Everywhere  is  evidence  that  an  acute  housing  shortage  is  adding 
to  the  present  social  unrest.  Continued  neglect  of  a  definite  policy  on 
part  of  the  government  to  encourage  home  construction  threatens  to 
impair  the  welfare  of  our  nation.  According  to  careful  surveys  there 
is  at  present  a  need  for  at  least  one  million  new  homes  in  the  United 
States.  Proper  housing  will  do  much  to  stabilize  labor  conditions,  in- 
crease plant  efficiency  and  materially  increase  production.  During  the 
war  it  was  necessary  for  the  protection  of  our  national  security  to  curtail 
building;  today  it  is  deemed  equally  necessary  to  resume  construction 
work  in  order  to  safeguard  our  national  integrity,  and  it  is  urged  that 
everything  possible  be  done  to  encourage  the  construction  of  suitable 
homes.  Since  the  signing  of  the  Armistice,  housing  conditions  generally 
throughout  the  country  have  failed  to  improve ;  instead,  there  is  evidence 
that  the  housing  shortage  has  gradually  become  more  and  more  acute. 

Home  construction  has  been  further  curtailed  because  of  the  neces- 
sity of  providing  capital  upon  short  term  loans  to  tide  industries  over 
the  reconstruction  period,  diverting  capital  from  long  term  loans  based 
on  real  estate  mortgages.  A  careful  and  comprehensive  study  should 
be  made  by  Congress  of  the  sources  of  capital  available  for  building, 
giving  consideration  to  the  advisability  of  creating  beneficial  legisla- 
tion. 

The  Canadian  government  has  provided  for  a  loan  of  $25,000,000 
at  5  per  cent  to  the  Provincial  governments  for  housing  purposes.  The 
object  is:  (a)  to  promote  the  erection  of  dwelling  houses  of  modern 
character  to  relieve  congestion  of  population  in  cities  and  towns;  (b)  to 
put  within  the  reach  of  all  working  men,  particularly  returned  soldiei^, 
the  opportunity  of  acquiring  their  own  homes  at  actual  cost  of  .  the 
building  and  land  secured  at  a  fair  value,  thus  eliminating  the  profits  of 
the  speculator;  (c)  to  contribute  to  the  general  health  and  well  being 
of  the  community  by  encouraging  suitable  town-planning  and  housing 
schemes. 

The  British  Government  has  a  somewhat  similar  scheme,  but  neither 
of  these  has  produced  very  good  results  owing  to  the  restrictions  and 
red  tape  connected  with  their  application.  It  is  import-ant  that  any 
scheme  enacted  by  the  Federal  Government  should  be  flexible  enough 
to  adjust  itself  to  the  rapidly  fluctuating  cost  of  material  and  labor 
and  should  be  simple  enough  to  be  applied  without  a  large  amount  of 
government  restriction  and  regulation.  It  is  probable  that  similar  power 
placed  in  the  hands  of  states  and  municipalities  would  produce  better 
and  quicker  results. 


82  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

Pending  Legislation 

The  building  and  loan  associations  that  have  consistently  encour- 
aged saving  for  the  purpose  of  home  building  hold  time  mortgages  on 
real  estate  valued  at  approximately  $2,000,000,000  and  now  find  them- 
selves with  insufficient  funds  for  home  buying  and  home  building  be- 
cause their  only  source  of  working  capital  is  derived  from  weekly  cash 
deposits  paid  in  by  the  association  members. 

To  relieve  these  conditions  the  ''Federal  Building  Loan  Act"  has 
been  introduced  in  Congress  by  Senator  Calder  (New  York)  and  Rep- 
resentative Nolan  (California)  through  bills,  S  2492  and  H  R  7597 
entitled  ''A  Bill  to  Encourage  Home  Ownership  and  to  Stimulate  the 
Buying  and  Building  of  Homes ;  to  Create  a  Standard  Form  of  Invest- 
ment based  on  Building  Association  Mortgages;  to  Create  Government 
Depositories  and  Financial  Agents  for  the  United  States;  to  Furnish  a 
Market  for  Government  Bonds;  and  for  Other  Purposes."  These  bills 
would  create  a  system  of  Federal  Building  loan  banks  operating  under 
the  general  supervision  of  the  Treasury  Department  and  make  available, 
for  the  purpose  of  dwelling  construction,  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
two  billion  dollars  now  tied  up  in  the  mortgages  held  by  the  building 
and  loan  associations  throughout  the  country.  Another  bill  with  almost 
identical  aim  has  been  introduced  in  the  House  by  Representative  Hill, 
known  as  the  ''Federal  Urban  Mortgage  Bank  Act"  (H.  R.  10518). 

Recognizing  the  need  for  more  general  construction  Senator  Calder 
(New  York)  and  Representative  McLaughlin  (Michigan)  have  presented 
bills  S  2094  and  H  R  8080  entitled  "A  BiR  to  encourage  the  Building 
of  Homes  by  Providing  for  Exemption  from  Taxation  of  the  Income 
from  mortgages  on  Real  Estate."  Passage  of  this  act  will  make  loans 
upon  real  estate  more  attractive  to  investors  and  will  encourage  the 
construction  of  homes  so  vitally  necessary  for  the  happiness  and  pros- 
perity of  our  people. 

At  present  a  lot  of  first  mortgage  money  is  being  diverted  into 
other  channels  to  escape  income  tax.  The  proposed  bill  will  tend  to  keep 
this  money  in  mortgages  but  the  amount  of  relief  afforded  by  this  mea- 
sure will,  however,  be  so  small  that  it  will  not  make  any  appreciable 
difference  with  the  carrying  charges  of  a  house. 

The  suggestion  has  been  made  in  several  quarters  that  new  house 
construction  should  be  exempt  from  local  taxation  for  a  period  of  five 
or  ten  years.  The  benefits  of  this  in  communities  where  the  housing 
shortage  is  very  acute  would  at  once  be  felt,  as  local  taxation  usually 
runs  about  one-quarter  of  the  rental  cost  of  a  house.  It  is  a  method 
often  used  to  attract  new  manufacturing  industries  to  a  town  and  prece- 
dent for  such  procedure  is  therefore  established.  It  may  be  objected, 
however,  that  the  building  of  a  number  of  houses  adds  a  far  greater 
burden  to  a  town's  expenses  than  an  expenditure  of  equal  amount  in 
factory  construction,  as  the  houses  usually  call  for  an  expenditure  on 
sewers,  water,  etc.,  out  of  a  town's  funds  and  an  additional  tax  on  the 
town's  school  facilities,  fire  protection  service,  police,  etc.  The  exemp- 
tion from  local  taxation,  therefore,  can  only  be  considered  an  emergency 
measure.  It  is  not  economically  sound  and  should  only  be  used  as  a 
means  of  causing  all  classes  of  a  community  to  contribute  towards  the 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  83 

relief  of  a  town's  housing  shortage  where  other  methods  of  enlisting 
their  support  have  failed. 


II— SOURCES  OF  CAPITAL— METHODS  OF  FINANCING- 
SELLING  PLANS 

Home  Buying  Problems  of  the  Individual 

Individual  builders  or  purchasers  of  dwelling  houses  are  some- 
times confronted  with  problems  of  finance  that  give  little  annoyance 
to  their  more  fortunate  brethren.  The  growing  shortage  of  dwellings 
and  the  decided  increase  in  rentals  have  expressed  themselves  naturally 
enough  in  ''Own  Your  Home"  campaigns  and  have  greatly  intensified 
the  normal  desire  of  the  American  Family  to  own  its  home. 

For  the  man  of  moderate  means  the  establishment  of  a  home  pre- 
sents a  real  financial  problem  to  be  solved  in  accordance  with  his  indi- 
vidual requirements  and  available  capital.  Care  should  be  exercised  in 
determining  whether  or  not  the  property  considered  for  purchase  has 
been  fairly  appraised,  after  which  there  are  three  general  methods  of 
payment  usually  open  to  the  home  buyer  for  consideration,  namely: 

1.  Cash  payment. 

2.  Initial  cash  payment  of  about  40  per  cent,  assuming  first 

mortgage  for  balance. 

3.  Time  payment  or  installment  plan. 

Method  No.  1  involves  no  special  problem  if  sufficient  funds  for 
the  purpose  are  available  and  cannot  be  invested  to  better  advantage  as 
regards  interest  and  security. 

Comparing  methods  No.  2  and  3,  it  will  be  generally  found  that 
under  average  conditions  the  former  has  several  advantages  over  the 
latter;  (a)  larger  choice  of  properties  to  select  from;  (b)  saving  in 
cost  measured  by  a  somewhat  better  price  than  in  most  cases  might  be 
obtained  on  the  property;  and  (c)  a  distinct  advantage  in  the  smaller 
actual  monthly  cash  requirements.  The  first  two  advantages  listed  do 
not  always  hold  true  although  the  last  presents  a  real  advantage. 

Practically  any  investment  company  or  bank  (excepting  those 
operating  under  national  charter)  will  handle  the  first  mortgage  usually 
to  the  extent  of  50  or  60  per  cent  of  the  appraised  value  of  the  property. 
Interest  is  paid  at  specified  intervals  at  the  current  rate  and  a  long- 
term  period  allowed  for  repayment.  While  the  obligation  assumed  does 
not  call  for  any  monthly  reductions  of  the  mortgage  and  no  immediate 
risk  would  be  involved  in  not  providing  for  same,  it  is  recommended 
that  some  provision  be  made  for  amortizing  the  debt  by  making  pay- 
ments at  regular  intervals  or  providing  for  the  eventual  retirement  of 
the  mortgage  by  building  up  a  reserve  fund  by  monthly  savings  equal 
to  at  least  one-half  of  one  per  cent  of  the  principal.  It  is  also  highly 
desirable  that  further  provision  be  made  for  the  retirement  of  the  obli- 
gation upon  death  by  providing  for  ample  life  insurance.  These  rec- 
ommendations would  apply  in  case  of  either  of  tlie  last  two  methods  of 
buying  referred  to  (No.  2  and  3). 

It  is  very  important  to  emphasize  the  need  of  making  proper  pro- 


84  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

vision  in  any  sales  plan  for  the  amortization  of  both  first  and  second 
mortgages.  We  recognize  the  fact  that  a  house  will  not  and  does  not 
last  forever,  yet  this  fact  seems  to  be  lost  sight  of  in  the  usual  negotiation 
for  mortgages  and  the  financial  difficulties  of  many  investors  may  be 
traced  to  the  fact  that  mortgages  placed  on  a  conservative  basis  soon 
become  very  poorly  secured  if  the  mortgage  debt  is  not  reduced.  When- 
ever a  man  buys  an  automobile  he  has  to  reduce  his  debt  very  quickly 
and  in  buying  pianos  or  furniture  on  the  installment  basis,  his  repay- 
ment of  principal  is  usually  as  large  or  larger  than  the  amount  of 
interest  he  is  paying  on  his  debt.  The  same  idea  ought  to  be  adopted 
in  the  purchase  of  a  house. 

Several  methods  of  time  payment  are  presented  for  consideration. 

(a)  An  initial  payment  of  10  per  cent  of  the  total  purchase  price 
and  the  assumption  of  a  first  and  second  mortgage  for  the  remainder; 
the  first  mortgage  to  be  for  approximately  60  per  cent  of  the  property 
value.  The  property  is  deeded  to  the  purchaser  who  usually  arranges 
for  the  first  mortgage,  with  interest  payable  semi-annually  or  quarterly 
and  pajTnent  of  the  principal  deferred  until  after  the  second  mortgage 
is  paid  off.  The  second  mortgage  usually  accepted  by  the  seller  is  gen- 
erally repaid  at  the  rate  of  about  one  per  cent  per  month  in  addition 
to  the  monthly  interest  on  the  balance,  which  is  automatically  reduced 
as  the  second  mortgage  grows  smaller. 

(b)  The  property  is  deeded  direct  to  the  purchaser  by  the  seller, 
clear  and  free  of  all  ''incumbrances"  (liens,  mortgages,  etc.),  upon 
initial  payment  of  10  per  cent ;  the  purchaser  at  the  same  time  executing 
a  first  mortgage  for  the  entire  balance,  usually  payable  in  monthly 
installments  of  not  less  than  one  per  cent  each,  with  interest  on  the 
balance  at  the  current  rate,  payable  monthly  or  quarterly.  At  option 
of  the  buyer  or  seller  agreement  may  be  stipulated  for  repayment  of 
principal  at  longer  or  more  frequent  intervals  as  may  be  desired  at  a 
rate  equal  to  about  4  or  5  per  cent  quarterly. 

(c)  The  seller  retains  title  to  the  property  or  transfers  it  to  a 
trust  company  to  be  held  in  trust  for  buyer  and  seller.  The  seller  exe- 
cutes a  "contract  for  sale"  which  contains  terms  upon  which  the  trust 
company  can  eventually  deed  the  property  to  the  purchaser.  At  the 
same  time  the  buyer  executes  a  bond  or  note  for  the  balance  of  the  pur- 
chase price  and  interest  calling  for  payment  in  the  same  manner  as  in 
the  (a)  and  (b)  plans.  In  this  plan,  (c)  the  buyer  is  fully  protected  as 
there  is  less  likelihood  of  complication  through  the  death  or  bankruptcy 
of  the  seller  and  there  is  no  risk  of  the  title  being  defective  or  the 
possibility  of  unpaid  liens,  arising  unexpectedly  where  the  property  is 
deeded  to  a  trust  company.  In  dealing  with  a  trust  company  the  buyer 
is  also  sure  of  receiving  deed  to  the  property  immediately  upon  full 
payment  of  his  obligations  as  the  trust  company  operates  ''perpetually" 
at  a  definitely  known  location. 

In  arranging  for  the  purchase  of  a  house  on  the  installment  plan 
the  buyer  must  in  the  majority  of  cases  pay  down  at  least  10  per  cent 
of  the  cost  of  the  property,  at  the  time  of  making  the  transaction.  In 
most  cases  the  prospective  home  buyer  has  saved  the  amount  of  his 
first  payment  or  has  securities  or  property  upon  which  he  can  borrow 
sufficient  funds  for  the  purpose.     Any  selling  plan  which  provides  for 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  85 

initial  payment  of  less  than  10  per  cent  is  not  to  be  recommended.  The 
borrowing  of  money  by  a  purchaser  to  make  his  initial  payment  is  bad 
practice  and  should  be  discouraged. 

A  plan  for  home  purchasing  should  be  worked  out  on  such  terms 
as  to  destroy  the  old  belief  that  it  is  cheaper  to  pay  rent  than  to  buy. 
The  fact  should  be  thoroughly  learned  that  every  family  is  paying  for  a 
home.  It  is  argued  that  home  ownership  assumes  the  burden  of  taxes, 
repairs  and  rent,  which  is  true,  but  the  fact  should  not  be  lost  sight  of 
that  the  taxes,  insurance  and  repairs  of  the  rented  house  are  paid  by 
the  landlord  out  of  the  rent  which  the  tenant  paid,  and  so  the  tenant  is 
paying  for  these  items  on  the  landlord's  house.  Such  financial  plans 
should  be  evolved  as  would  make  it  possible  for  every  family  to  procure 
a  home  of  its  own  by  payment  of  periodical  sums  approximating  the 
rent  which  would  usually  be  charged  on  the  property. 

Builders,  Contractors,  Eeal  Estate  Operators 

Builders  or  contractors,  often  called  upon  by  prospective  buyers  for 
advice  concerning  the  best  means  of  financing  their  ventures  in  home 
building  should  keep  posted  on  the  sources  of  financial  aid  that  are 
available  to  their  clients  and  acquaint  themselves  with  a  number  of 
plans  that  have  been  employed  successfully  so  that  they  may  offer  prac- 
tical suggestions  and  advice  in  connection  with  their  clients'  problems. 
The  builder  should  be  acquainted  with  the  local  building  and  loan  asso- 
ciations and  other  institutions  or  individuals  in  a  position  to  loan 
money  on  real  estate  so  that  he  may  direct  prospective  buyers  to  sources 
from  which  they  can  borrow  at  lowest  prevailing  rates  and  under  most 
favorable  conditions.  In  case  the  client  is  unable  to  finance  his  home 
on  the  amount  borrowed  on  a  first  mortgage,  it  is  often  possible  and 
advisable  for  the  contractor  to  take  a  properly  executed  second  mort- 
gage on  the  property  to  cover  a  part  of  the  contract  price,  payable  in 
regular  installments.  In  assisting  the  client  in  his  financing  problems 
it  is  advisable  to  consider  very  carefully  the  various  selling  plans  and 
if  possible  make  arrangements  to  have  any  loans  which  may  be  extended 
on  either  first  or  second  mortgages  paid  off  at  regular  intervals. 

Full  payment  or  an  initial  cash  payment  equal  to  the  difference 
between  the  permanent  mortgage  and  the  selling  price  described  under 
''Home  Buying  Problems  of  the  Individual"  (Methods  1  and  2)  nat- 
urally offer  the  best  solution  to  the  builder's  selling  problems  as  they 
provide  a  quick  means  of  payment  and  do  not  make  it  necessary  to  carry 
the  less  marketable  second  mortgages;  but  the  number  of  people  in  a 
position  to  undertake  the  construction  of  a  home  under  these  conditions 
is  limited. 

In  plan  "a"  discussed  under  the  time  payment  or  installment  plan 
the  seller  comes  into  immediate  possession  of  10  per  cent  cash  and  a 
first  mortgage  that  he  can  easily  negotiate  and  is  only  called  upon  to 
carry  the  second  mortgage  which  is  paid  off  in  monthly  payments. 

The  principal  objection  to  plan  ''b"  is  that  the  seller  would  in  all 
probability  have  to  carry  the  entire  load  until  it  had  been  reduced  to 
about  60  per  cent  or  stand  a  very  large  discount  if  he  desired  to  realize 
on  it.    In  such  a  case,  it  is  not  unusual  to  add  to  the  purchase  price  to 


86  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

make  up  any  probable  loss  the  seller  might  have  in  selling  or  discounting 
his  mortgage. 

Plan  ''c"  protects  the  buyer  and  seller  equally  and  will  prove  a 
very  satisfactory  method  of  financing  the  small  home  buyer. 

To  assist  in  the  present  emergency  in  getting  more  homes  built 
quickly  in  Detroit  the  House  Financing  Corporation  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose, has  inaugurated  what  is  called  the  ''Contractors  Financing  Plan.'' 
At  proper  stages  in  the  transaction  financial  assistace  is  extended  to  the 
contractor  on  new  operations  to  be  undertaken  by  advancing  cash  to 
him  in  the  form  of  loans  on  certain  defined  terms  and  conditions  cover- 
ing type  of  house,  location  of  property,  selling  price,  etc.  This  plan 
has  worked  satisfactorily  in  Detroit,  but  is  not  alone  sufficient  to  meet 
the  present  building  requirements,  although  of  considerable  help  to  the 
contractor  with  limited  working  capital  in  financing  clients  unable  to 
pay  cash  for  their  homes. 

Another  factor  retarding  house  construction  is  the  cost  and  risk 
assumed  by  the  inexperienced  home  seeker  in  purchasing  a  house  prior 
to  construction.  A  solution  of  these  problems  is  the  construction  of 
houses  on  a  wholesale  plan.  The  majority  of  houses  that  have  been 
offered  for  sale,  whether  attractive  or  unattractive,  have  been  built  on 
a  retail  plan  and  the  cost  has  been  correspondingly  high,  requiring 
initial  and  subsequent  payments  that  seem  prohibitive.  As  a  solution 
of  these  conditions,  those  interested  in  the  construction  of  houses,  includ- 
ing the  contractor,  real  estate  operator  and  larger  employer  of  labor, 
should  by  means  of  a  cooperative  system  undertake  the  erection  of  homes 
upon  a  large  scale.  Building  upon  a  wholesale  basis  will  do  much  to 
decrease  their  cost  through  economy  of  design  and  purchasing  materials 
and  saving  labor  and  thus  make  it  possible  to  sell  cheaply  and  upon  easy 
payment  plans. 

Community  Housing  Corporations 

Industrial  communities  that  cannot  offer  the  workingman  and  his 
family  decent  living  quarters  now  find  themselves  face  to  face  with  a 
crisis  that  is  demanding  serious  attention.  Men  well  housed  in  sanitary 
dwellings  are  healthier,  more  efficient  and  less  troublesome  than  men 
forced  to  live  under  crowded  and  insanitary  conditions.  The  output 
of  a  plant  is  seriously  effected  by  the  prevalence  of  sickness  often  caused 
by  overcrowding  and  lack  of  sanitation  in  the  workman's  home.  The 
better  labor  is  housed  and  cared  for,  the  greater  will  be  its  efficiency 
and  output.  The  industrial  employer  situated  in  poorly  housed  com- 
munities finds  himself  heavily  handicapped  when  forced  into  the  pres- 
ent market  to  compete  for  skilled  or  even  unskilled  labor  and  is  begin- 
ning to  realize  the  tremendous  importance  of  these  conditions  and  their 
relation  to  production. 

A  report  of  the  housing  committee  of  the  Bridgeport  Chamber  of 
Commerce  in  1916  is  quoted  to  illustrate  the  importance  of  proper  hous- 
ing to  industrial  communities: 

'The  housing  situation  in  Bridgeport  is  not  only  acute,  but  the  evils 

of  congestion  and   rapid  growth  have   been   intensified  by   the  delay  in 

taking  some  decisive  action  and  the  situation  becomes  automatically  worse 

from  day  to  day. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  87 

♦ 

There  is  no  hope  that  the  building  and  real  estate  interests  of  the 
city  which  are  equipped  only  to  meet  the  ordinary  increase  in  population 
can,  under  any  circumstances,  provide  for  the  requirements  of  the  present 
abnormal  increase  in  population. 

Under  such  circumstances  your  committee  believes  that  the  continued 
success  and  efficiency  of  the  present  manufacturing  establishments  of  the 
city  as  well  as  the  future  development  of  Bridgeport  as  an  industrial  city 
are  seriously  menaced  by  the  comparatively  higher  rental  of  real  estate 
and  general  inadequacy  of  housing  conditions  as  compared  with  other 
and  competing  manufacturing  cities.  Such  a  condition  in  a  city  whose 
industries  are  so  exclusively  manufacturing  involves  the  welfare  of  every 
business  interest  and  proi>erty  owner  in  the  city. 

In  the  opinion  of  the  committee  the  only  available  solution  of  the 
problem  is  by  the  general  and  combined  effort  of  every  interest  in  the  city 
to  finance  and  carry  out  the  erection  without  delay  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  houses  to  relieve  at  least  the  acuteness  of  the  present  demand." 

In  the  sprin^f  of  1919,  the  government  was  very  much  concerned 
over  the  lull  of  general  business  that  followed  signing  the  Armistice. 
A  *' Build  Now"  campaign  was  inaugurated  and  sponsored  by  the 
United  States  Department  of  Labor  to  ward  off  the  pending  disasters 
that  would  result  in  shutting  dowTi  business  and  throwing  men  out  of 
employment. 

''Own  Your  Home"  campaigns  fostered  by  the  Chambers  of  Com- 
merce, civic  and  other  associations  were  launched  in  about  100  different 
towns  and  cities  throiighout  the  country.  These  organizations  rendered 
a  real  service  not  only  in  stimulating  a  desire  upon  the  part  of  many 
to  own  their  own  homes,  but  also  in  directing  the  attention  of  employers, 
builders  and  investors  to  the  need  for  this  class  of  construction. 

However,  such  campaigns  alone  cannot  accomplish  the  desired  re- 
sults in  increasing  the  actual  construction  of  houses  unless  ways  and 
means  of  building  and  financing  homes  are  provided  to  solve  the  prob- 
lem. 

The  important  problem  in  financing  small  house  construction  is  to 
fill  the  gap  between  the  amount  obtainable  on  first  mortgage  and  the 
amount  the  purchaser  is  able  to  pay  in  cash.  At  the  present  time  it  is 
difficult  to  obtain  over  50  per  cent  of  the  cost  of  a  house  on  first  mortgage 
and  it  is  rare  to  find  a  purchaser  who  has  more  than  10  per  cent  of  the 
cost  which  he  can  pay  as  a  first  payment.  This  leaves  about  40  per  cent 
to  be  covered  by  a  second  mortgage,  and  employers  of  labor  or  local 
housing  corporations  must  be  prepared  to  assume  the  risk  of  lending  as 
large  amounts  as  this  in  order  to  cope  with  the  housing  shortage. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  a  better  method  than  loans  on  first  and 
second  mortgage  would  be  the  placing  of  a  first  mortgage  of  90  per  cent 
or  whatever  the  total  amount  loaned  may  be,  this  mortgage  beii7g  held 
by  the  housing  corporation  and  used  as  collateral  to  obtain  a  loan  of 
50  or  60  per  cent  from  banks  or  other  investors  or  as  security  for  first 
mortgage  bonds  of  a  like  amount.  The  security  offered  to  the  bank 
or  bond  holder  is  better  than  that  afforded  by  a  first  mortgage  as  the 
whole  credit  of  the  housing  corporation  is  back  of  the  loan  instead  of 
the  only  asset  being  the  value  of  the  individual  house  and  land  and  it 
is  thought  that  larger  amounts  may  be  released  in  this  way  than  by  the 
former  method  of  first  and  second  mortgages. 

A  housing  corporation  naturally  desires  to  have  its  funds  released 


88  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

entirely  within  a  reasonable  length  of  time  and  some  have  loaned 
on  second  mortgages  and  stipulated  that  at  the  end  of  a  six  year  period 
the  balance  of  the  second  mortgage  which  has  not  been  amortized  should 
be  payable  on  demand.  The  principle  is  a  sound  one  but  should  be 
applied  with  caution  as  the  strict  enforcement  of  such  a  provision  in  a 
time  of  financial  stringency  would  work  a  great  hardship  on  the  indi- 
vidual home  owner,  whom  we  desire  to  aid. 

Before  definite  steps  are  taken  to  organize  a  home  building  com- 
pany, a  thorough  investigation  should  be  conducted  to  determine  care- 
fully the  housing  needs  of  the  community  and  whether  or  not  the  pro- 
ject can  be  entered  into  extensively  enough  to  provide  an  adequate 
remedy  for  the  housing  situation.  Also  whether  it  is  possible  to  provide 
dwellings  at  a  cost  low  enough  to  meet  the  financial  resources  of  the 
prospective  buyers.  The  investigation  should  determine  whether  suffi- 
cient funds  are  available  to  finance  the  project  and  what  returns  may 
be  derived  from  the  investment,  considering  the  possibility  of  reducing 
labor  turn-over,  attracting  better  classes  of  workmen,  building  up  the 
community  and  its  industrial  interests  and  enhancing  property  values. 
These  questions  naturally  suggest  other  closely  related  problems  that 
should  be  solved  to  meet  local  requirements.  If  after  careful  delibera- 
tion it  is  determined  that  community  housing  is  desirable  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  an  effort  should  be  made  to  organize  the  various 
interests  to  whom  an  appeal  can  be  made  for  working  capital  or  funds 
sufficient  to  finance  the  project.  The  procedure  may  be  outlined  in  the 
follo^ving  manner: 

First:  Take  up  the  matter  with  the  various  business  interests  of 
the  community  and  endeavor  to  combine  the  financial  resources  to  their 
mutual  advantage. 

Second:  If  several  employers  of  labor  can  be  found  who  can  agree 
on  the  need  of  houses  even  though  building  operations  may  be  scattered 
in  various  parts  of  the  city,  they  should  get  together  and  form  a  hous- 
ing project  designed  to  erect,  rent  or  sell  low  cost  dwellings  on  easy 
payments. 

TJiird:  Effort  should  also  be  made  to  interest  other  investing  fac- 
tors of  the  community  which  may  include  various  business  organizations., 
contractors,  builders,  real  estate  men,  merchants,  banks,  trust  and  insur- 
ance companies  and  the  general  investing  public.  It  is  sometimes  possi- 
ble to  interest  the  municipal,  state  and  federal  governments  to  the 
extent  that  special  appropriations  be  made  to  relieve  housing  conditions. 

Fourth:  The  charter  of  the  association  should  be  carefully  drawn 
up  so  as  to  embody  as  many  desirable  features  as  possible.  Among  the 
general  requirements  considered  particularly  desirable  in  order  to  in 
sure  successful  methods  of  financing  might  be  mentioned  the  following : 
(a)  Supply  funds  quickly,  (b)  give  a  reasonable  return  on  the  invest- 
ment, (c)  permit  further  expansion  and  (d)  avoid,  when  possible,  the 
necessity  of  tying  up  the  investors'  funds  for  any  great  length  of  time, 
(e)  Shares  of  small  denominations  should  preferably  be  issued  so  as 
to  appeal  to  the  small  investor,  and  (f)  provision  made  to  permit  the 
exchange  of  stock  for  its  equivalent  equity  in  the  property  of  the  cor- 
poration. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  89 

Fifth:  The  type  of  organization  which  properly  meets  all  the  re- 
quirements is  a  joint  stock  corporation  wherein  an  indeterminate  num- 
ber of  individuals  voluntarily  associate  for  "the  purpose  of  providing 
capital  for  a  given  enterprise,  the  capital  being  divided  into  transferable 
shares,  ownership  of  which  is  a  condition  of  membership.  The  ad- 
vantage of  this  form  of  organization  would  be  that  there  is  an  equality 
of  interest  and  that  it  provides  the  principal  of  an  association,  not  only 
as  to  capital,  but  also  to  management,  for  the  investors  can  elect  direct- 
ors or  a  board  of  management  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  the  corporation. 

The  capital  stock  divided  into  equal  shares,  readily  transferable, 
allows  all  shareholders  to  benefit  proportionately  since  there  is  no  pre- 
ferred stock,  the  possession  of  a  given  number  of  shares  indicating  the 
owner's  part  in  the  income  of  the  enterprise.  The  sale  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  transferable  shares  permits  the  expense  of  the  project  to  be 
widely  distributed  and  the  element  of  incorporation  removes  the  indi- 
vidual liability  of  stockholders  resulting  in  greater  financial  stability. 
An  added  advantage  to  stockholders  desiring  to  build  homes  of  their 
own  is  found  in  the  provision  allowing  for  the  exchange  of  stock 
for  an  equal  equity  in  the  property  of  the  corporation.  Future 
growth  and  expansion  and  its  consequent  necessity  for  increased  capitali- 
zation can  be  taken  care  of  by  an  additional  issue  of  treasury  stock  at 
the  time  of  incorporation,  or  if  so  provided  in  the  charter,  by  a  majority 
vote  of  stockholders  to  issue  additional  capital  stock  to  the  amount  re- 
quired; or  last,  by  reorganization. 

Sixth:  Bearing  in  mind  the  desirability  of  making  the  investment 
as  stable  and  secure  as  possible  to  the  stockholder  and  having  deter- 
mined the  extent  and  cost  of  the  initial  operations,  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  fix  the  annual  amounts  required  to  pay  a  fair  dividend  to  the 
investors,  take  care  of  taxes,  upkeep  and  operating  expenses  and  have 
enough  left  over  to  go  into  the  surplus  or  reserve  fund. 

The  selling  plan  should  be  well  worked  out  before  construction  is 
started.  This  plan  will  be  influenced  to  some  extent  by  information  col- 
lected from  the  survey,  particularly  with  reference  to  the  financial 
resources  of  the  prospective  buyers.  It  is  generally  found  that  workmen 
are  willing  to  purchase  well  made  houses  if  the  way  is  made  easy. 

It  is  usually  advantageous  to  retain  an  option  on  the  property 
where  it  is  sold  to  workmen  providing  for  the  repurchase  of  the  house 
by  the  company  if  the  workman  wishes  to  leave,  and  some  method  should 
be  employed  for  estimating  the  amount  of  depreciation  and  appraising 
the  current  value  of  the  property.  It  also  seems  only  fair  that  any 
unearned  increment  should  pass  to  the  company  and  not  be  retained 
by  the  buyer  as  otherwise  it  would  encourage  speculation  to  the  disad- 
vantage of  the  building  corporation. 

An  interesting  example  of  the  part  municipal  governments  may 
play  in  providing  for  suitable  housing  is  illustrated  in  the  Winnipeg 
plan.  A  housing  commission  recently  appointed  has  decided  to  stimu- 
late the  building  of  homes  by  making  a  loan  of  85  per  cent  of  the  net 
cost  of  the  building.  A  first  mortgage  will  be  taken  on  the  property 
for  20  years,  repayable  at  the  rate  of  $7.13  a  month  for  each  $1,000 
borrowed.  The  builder  may  select  his  own  lot  in  any  part  of  the  city 
and  pay  any  part  or  all  of  the  borrowed  money  without  notice  at  any 
time. 


90  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

The  plan  adopted  by  the  Housing  Committee  of  the  Hartford 
(Conn.)  Chamber  of  Commerce  (December  29,  1919)  for  meeting  the 
housing  needs  of  Hartford  during  the  next  few  years  is  of  especial 
interest  because  it  contemplates  first:  a  method  of  assisting  employees 
in  the  construction  of  houses  on  their  own  account,  and  second:  the 
construction  of  houses  for  sale. 

The  main  defect  in  most  financing  plans  is  that  all  the  risk  is 
placed  upon  the  individual  and  as  a  result  they  have  not  produced 
results  in  the  quantity  or  quality  that  had  been  expected.  When  a 
city  or  town  feels  itself  in  need  of  houses  ''the  way  to  get  houses  is  to 
build  houses"  and  not  to  offer  to  lend  money  to  the.  other  fellow  and 
ask  him  to  take  all  the  risk.  In  the  present  era  of  high  prices,  the 
individual  is  very  timid  about  entering  into  building  contracts,  selecting 
plans  and  building  houses.  But  when  the  local  housing  corporation  has 
shown  a  willingness  to  take  the  risk  of  building  houses  and  the  purchaser 
can  see  what  he  is  buying  he  is  far  more  likely  to  become  a  home  owner 
or  purchaser.  His  risk  is  known  and  costs  can  be  definitely  measured, 
and  the  fact  that  the  housing  corporation  has  backed  its  own  judgment 
by  building  houses  is  evidence  to  him  that  he  will  not  be  foolish  to  own 
one  that  they  have  built.  Furthermore,  the  housing  corporation  build- 
ing on  a  large  scale  can  take  the  advantages  to  be  gained  by  quantity 
production  by  purchasing  wholesale  and  by  the  continuous  employment 
of  large  gangs  of  men.  This  is  particularly  important  in  considering 
the  concrete  house  as  most  systems  of  concrete  construction  show  much 
greater  advantages  in  economy  and  speed  when  produced  on  a  wholesale 
basis. 


Industrial  Housing  Projects 

In  the  larger  cities  the  housing  projects  are*  best  provided  for  in 
the  organization  of  housing  companies  through  which  the  various  manu- 
facturers may  combine  with  other  business  interests  to  raise  the  neces- 
sary capital  to  take  care  of  and  remedy  the  housing  situation.  Often 
large  industrial  corporations  are  pressed  to  take  up  the  question  in  self- 
protection  and  as  individual  enterprises,  even  though  sometimes  con- 
sidered undesirable  for  the  manufacturing  corporation  to  build  houses 
either  to  sell  or  rent  to  their  employees.  Many  corporations,  especially 
in  the  smaller  towns  and  far  from  the  labor  markets,  have  been  forced 
to  provide  housing  in  this  way  and  have  been  successful  in  maintaining 
the  most  favorable  relations  with  their  employees  and  in  materially  re- 
ducing the  expense  of  labor  turnover. 

In  the  present  labor  situation  with  demand  far  exceeding  the  sup- 
ply, the  workman  will  no  longer  be  content  with  the  disgraceful  housing 
conditions  he  has  had  to  put  up  with,  and  as  fast  as  manufacturers  bid 
for  his  services,  by  putting  up  decent  houses,  he  is  going  to  leave  the 
old  insanitary,  crowded  centers  to  go  to  the  new  villages  where  he  can 
live  decently  with  his  family. 

When  a  manufacturer  advertises  that  he  can  offer  attractive  hous- 
ing conditions  and  a  satisfactory  environment  in  which  to  live  and 
rear  a  family,  it  signifies  recognition  of  the  fact  that  labor  is  demanding 
better  housing  and  that  progressive  manufacturers  realize  that  it  is  to 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  91 

their  advantage  to  furnish  such  houses.  The  DuPont  Chemical  Co., 
now  operating  on  a  peace  basis,  finds  that  it  has  a  surplus  of  factory 
sites  and  equipment  in  its  war4own  of  Hopewell,  Va.,  which  it  is  trying 
to  sell  through  country-wide  newspaper  advertising.  In  its  advertise- 
ments, the  following  mention  of  housing  appears: 

"The  housing  problem  is  so  closely  allied  with  the  problem  of  laboi 
that  a  manufacturer  in  these  days  must  interest  himself  in  what  sort  of 
homes  are  available  for  his  employees.  The  scarcity  of  housing  and  the 
consequent  high  rents  lower  the  efficiency  of  labor  as  well  as  limit  its 
supply. 

Hopewell  has  no  'Housing  Problem,'  To  accommodate  its  vast  army 
at  Hopewell,  the  DuPont  Company  built  hundreds  of  cottages,  bungalows 
and  dormitories.  These  pretty  houses  with  lawns  and  gardens  bordering 
on  well  paved  streets  are  equipped  with  electricity  and  all  modern  im- 
provements." 

The  importance  the  DuPont  Company  has  placed  upon  housing  in 
its  advertising  campaign  to  sell  factory  sites,  is  evidence  of  the  recogni- 
tion given  this  problem  by  the  large  employer  of  labor. 

It  is  not  absolutely  necessary,  however,  that  the  manufacturer  con- 
duct the  real  estate  and  building  operations  in  his  own  name.  A  sep- 
arate corporation  or  subsidiary  company  may  be  formed  to  carry  out 
such  work.  A  good  example  of  this  plan  of  operation  is  the  Indian  Hill 
Co.,  a  subsidiary  of  the  Norton  Co.,  Worcester,  Mass.,  organized  to  build 
and  sell  homes  to  their  employees. 

The  problem  of  organizing  and  financing  the  home  building  pro- 
ject for  the  manufacturer  and  for  the  Community  Home  Building  Cor- 
porations have  much  in  common.  The  same  general  conditions  hold 
true,  the  only  fundamental  difference  being  the  source  of  capital  which, 
for  the  industrial  project,  must  be  provided  generally  from  working 
funds  of  the  company, 

C.  L.  Close,  Manager  of  the  Safety,  Relief,  Sanitation  and  Welfare 
Department  of  the  U.  S.  Steel  Corporation,  has  said  in  a  recent  article : 

'The  housing  of  employees  requires  the  expenditure  of  large  sums  of 
money.  That  money  must  be  taken  out  of  the  business.  As  part  of  the 
capital  of  the  enterprise  it  must  yield  returns  to  those  who  have  invested 
it.  But  money  invested  in  building  houses  for  employees  will  not  bring 
any  such  return  as  money  employed  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
products  of  industry.  Therefore,  a  board  of  directors  is  compelled 
seriously  to  consider  how  far  it  can  properly  withdraw  capital  for  the 
construction  of  industrial  houses  and  villages.  It  is  easy  to  say  that  the 
diminished  returns  on  this  capital  are  made  up  by  larger  returns  on  the 
remainder  of  their  capital,  due  to  better  work  done  by  more  contented 
workmen.  We  firmly  believe  this,  but  it  is  not  a  thing  which  can  be 
demonstrated  by  the  books  of  account. 

Behind  all  housing  problems  lies  the  most  important  one  of  all.  An 
industrial  enterprise  must  be  so  conducted  that  it  shall  earn  enough  to 
provide  proper  working  conditions  for  its  employees,  to  pay  fair  wages, 
and  to  return  a  reasonable  profit  to  those  who  have  invested  their  money 
in  it." 

Labor  turnover  is  not  touched  upon  by  Mr.  Close  in  the  above  state- 
ment although  any  reduction  that  can  be  made  will  result  in  more  effi- 
cient operation  and  increased  returns  on  capital  invested  in  the  business. 
Six  cement  companies  have  analyzed  their  labor  turnover  for  a  period 
of  three  years  reporting  an  average  of  103  per  cent  per  annum  and  it 
is  not  uncommon  to  find  manufacturing  plants  in  all  industries  with  an 


92  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

annual  labor  turnover  equal  to  400  per  cent.  An  investigation  made 
by  the  Niagara  Falls  Chamber  of  Commerce  showed  that  the  labor  turn- 
over in  that  city  approximates  38,000  persons  per  year  and  that  ade- 
quate housing  would  reduce  this  by  10,000.  If  the  cost  of  labor  turnover 
is  taken  at  the  conservative  figure  of  fifty  dollars  ($50)  per  employee, 
this  would  save  Niagara  Falls  manufacturers  one-half  million  dollars 
annually. 

Manufacturers  have  generally  avoided  the  housing  problem  when  at 
all  possible,  and  for  a  good  reason,  but  the  present  crisis  is  forcing  upon 
them  the  conviction  that  they  must  tackle  it  and  that  in  the  future  they 
must  control  it. 

When  houses  are  built  a  most  important  problem  presents  itself  for 
consideration  in  the  decision  as  to  whether  the  houses  are  to  be  sold  to 
the  employees  or  rented.  If  the  houses  are  sold  to  the  workmen  objec- 
tions to  be  met  are  that  if  the  workmen  leave  the  employ  of  the  com- 
pany they  still  retain  possession  of  the  house  although  it  is  wanted  for 
other  workmen;  also  that  if  they  can  sell  at  a  profit  the  increment  in 
value  which  has  been  put  into  the  house  by  the  presence  of  the  plant 
goes  to  the  workman  who  has  not  earned  it.  These  objections  can  be 
overcome,  however,  by  retaining  an  option  on  the  property  providing 
for  the  repurchase  of  the  house  by  the  company  in  case  the  employee 
desires  to  dispose  of  his  property. 

Where  houses  are  rented  the  owner  has  more  control  over  them,  al- 
though he  usually  has  difficulty  in  taking  care  of  the  property,  especially 
in  the  event  of  a  strike.  The  tendency  seems  to  be  towards  the  selling 
of  the  houses  and  several  selling  schemes  are  presented  here  as  fairly 
representative. 


Ill— PERMANENT  HOMES  BEST  INVESTMENT 

Safety  of  principal  is  of  paramount  importance  to  the  investor. 
It  is,  therefore,  especially  desirable  that  the  building  upon  which  money 
has  been  loaned  be  subject  to  as  little  deterioration  and  other  hazards 
as  possible,  thus  keeping  the  security  value  unimpaired.  The  home 
buyer  gains  considerable  advantage  in  purchasing  a  home  that  is  per- 
manent, fire-safe  and  free  from  heavy  up-keep  expense.  The  owner 
of  such  a  home  is  often  able  to  have  a  second  mortgage  discounted  at  a 
lower  rate  and  also  receive  the  added  advantage  of  a  lower  insurance 
premium. 

Sinking  fund  requirements  for  deterioration  and  up-keep  are  re- 
duced to  a  minimum  enabling  the  home  buyer  to  increase  the  amount  of 
his  payments  on  the  principal.  There  is  the  added  advantage  in  being 
able  to  estimate  more  accurately  the  maintenance  charges  on  a  perma- 
nent dwelling  as  they  amount  to  a  much  lower  percentage  of  the  cost 
and  are  less  variable.  During  the  past  five  years  the  cost  of  maintenance 
has  increased  enormously,  making  elimination  of  many  of  the  usual 
up-keep  charges  a  very  desirable  feature. 

The  cost  of  insurance  is  another  important  matter  to  the  home 
buyer  and  to  the  investor  who  has  loaned  money  on  real  estate  mort- 
gages.    During  the  last  two  years  the  cost  of  building  has  increased 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  93 

generally  60  to  100  per  cent,  yet  in  many  cases  the  insurance  on  the 
property  has  not  been  increased  to  meet  the  increased  cost  of  rebuilding 
in  the  event  that  the  structure  is  destroyed  by  fire. 

One  of  the  most  important  reasons  for  the  shortage  of  houses  and 
the  unattractiveness  of  the  house  as  an  investment  is  the  fact  that  re- 
ceipts from  rent  are  usually  not  enough  to  pay  a  fair  interest  and  allow 
for  depreciation.  The  investor  who  puts  his  money  into  houses  is  enti- 
tled to  a  fair  return  on  his  money  and  the  tenant  does  not  want  and 
does  not  need  to  be  dependent  on  the  gifts  of  others  or  on  federal  or 
state  relief  to  help  him  pay  his  rent.  It  is  very  necessary,  therefore, 
that  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  house  be  carefully  studied  and  rents 
calculated  on  such  a  basis  that  the  landlord  can  make  at  least  the  pre- 
vailing rate  of  interest  (say  6  per  cent)  on  his  money  after  payment 
of  maintenance  charges  and  allowance  for  depreciation. 

The  concrete  house  figures  particularly  favorably  in  this  respect 
as  maintenance  and  depreciation  on  a  concrete  house  are  much  less  than 
on  houses  of  frame  construction.  In  fact,  assuming  a  house  of  frame 
and  of  concrete  construction  to  cost  the  same  (for  example,  $5,000), 
it  will  be  found  that  the  concrete  house  can  be  rented  at  a  lower  figure. 
In  any  house  of  this  size  there  is  at  least  $1,000  in  items  like  plumbing, 
heating,  painting,  etc.,  on  which  a  depreciation  item  of  at  least  5  per 
cent  per  annum  should  be  allowed,  total  $50  per  annum;  on  the  rest  of 
the  concrete  house  structure  1  per  cent  is  ample  but  about  2^  per  cent 
is  as  low  as  can  be  considered  safe  on  the  frame  house.  One  per  cent 
on  $4,000  equals  $40  per  annum,  while  2i  per  cent  equals  $100  per 
annum  so  that  the  total  allowance  for  depreciation  and  maintenance  on 
the  frame  house  should  be  $150  per  annum,  but  on  the  concrete  house 
only  $90  per  annum,  a  saving  of  $60  per  annum,  or  $5  per  month. 

Committee  ox  Financing  Permanent  Homes 

Jas.  F.  Basiger,  Chairman,  Chicago 

Leslie  H.  Allen,  Secretary,   Springfield,  Mass. 

M.  L.  Dowse,  Kenosha,  Wis. 

Fred  L.  Dennis,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

J.  K.  Harridge,  Chicago 

Col.  Abel  Davis,  Chicago 

K.  V.  Haymaker,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mark  D.  Rider,  Chicago 


REMARKS. 

Walter  J.  Parsons:  I  think  the  subject  of  financing  homes  is 
one  of  the  most  important  to  come  before  this  Conference.  I  believe  I 
may  speak  from  the  standpoint  of  personal  experience.  It  is  easy  to 
build  houses,  it  is  easy  to  plan  them,  it  is  easy  to  talk  about  the  material 
you  are  going  to  use,  but  it  is  not  aii  easy  thing  to  get  the  money  out 
of  the  man  who  is  going  to  build  the  house.  The  question  of  financing 
is  the  first  one  that  has  to  be  solved.  There  is"  a  shortage  of  finance, 
as  well  as  a  shortage  of  material.    We  have  been  in  touch  with  perhaps 


94  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

over  a  hundred  industrial  concerns  in  the  last  six  months.  Practically 
all  of  them  want  to  build  homes  for  their  employes. 

We  have  found  a  very  decided  tendency  toward  cooperative  ac- 
tion. High  prices  are  driving  us  to  such  action.  We  must  sacrifice  and 
waive  our  desires  to  own  this  or  that  in  fee  simple,  or  have  it  for  our 
families  for  generations  to  come,  one  reason  for  which  is  that  we  don't 
stay  in  one  place  as  long  as  we  used  to. 

In  a  cooperative  way  we  can  finance  better  and  more  cheaply,  can 
build  for  less  and  more  quickly,  and  can  build  more  in  a  cooperative  way 
than  in  a  single  or  individual  way. 

Just  to  illustrate  the  tendency  in  that  direction,  I  might  say  that  we 
were  approached  about  three  weeks  ago  by  a  group  of  ten  men  in  one 
of  our  principal  cities,  who  asked  us  if  we  could  not  formulate  a  plan 
by  which  they  could  buy  a  piece  of  property  of  perhaps  50  acres,  paying 
a  part  down  and  holding  an  option  on  the  remainder.  These  men  wanted 
to  form  a  co-operative  association  of  25  members  to  build  25  homes  for 
themselves,  cost  to  be  from  $7,500  up.  They  were  men  of  average  means, 
and  the  principal  object  they  had  in  mind  was  a  new  home  in  perhaps 
a  little  better  district.  They  wanted  the  advantages  of  community  life 
and  they  have  a  scheme  now  on  which  they  are  working,  as  a  result  of 
which  they  will  secure  25  members  and  then  sell  the  remainder  of  their 
property  to  outsiders.  They  will  not  only  build  houses  for  themselves 
but  also  for  these  outside  persons. 

That  plan  is  going  to  cheapen  the  house  of  each  of  the  25  charter 
members.  The  selling  value  of  the  property  will,  of  course,  be  advanced 
and  selling  the  property  is  going  to  reduce  the  cost  of  these  25  houses 
to  this  club  or  association.  They  are  going  to  have  a  central  heating 
plant  and  a  central  service  station.  They  will  secure  a  lot  of  community 
benefits  which  are  fine.  All  of  us  would  like  to  have  them  and  they  are 
going  to  realize  them  in  this  cooperative  way.  Incidentally,  the  final 
cost  to  each  is  going  to  be  at  least  25  per  cent  under  what  it  would  be 
were  they  acting  independently  as  individuals.  This  is  a  plan  that  can 
be  used  in  any  mixed  community.  It  presents  a  way  of  financing  home 
building  through  cooperative  action. 

Wm  p.  Parker:  In  connection  with  the  financing  of  houses,  I 
want  to  emphasize  one  point :  that  is,  the  difference  in  maintenance  cost 
between  some  houses  and  concrete  houses.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  dif- 
ference, but  I  think  we  can  readily  prove  that  in  a  concrete  house  for 
the  same  amount  of  money  you  can  give  a  man  a  house  that  is  $1,000 
better. 

Leslie  H.  Allen:  In  what  is  called  the  ''Detroit  Plan,"  which 
has  been  followed  in  a  number  of  other  cities,  a  service  charge  is  made  of 
some  $300  per  house  as  a  part  of  the  cost  of  the  house.  From  this  it  is 
expected  to  pay  the  expenses  of  running  the  corporation  and  form  a 
dividend  which  is  usually  limited  to  6  per  cent.  Many  corporations 
would  rather  appeal  to  the  interests  of  the  community  at  large  than  for 
any  financial  gain,  the  reason  being  the  same  as  that  for  which  we  sub- 
scribed for  Liberty  Bonds — not  because  the  rate  of  return  was  high,  but 
because  it  was  good  for  the  United  States.    A  manufacturer  cannot  do 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRVGftON  dS 

business  without  a  power  plant.  His  power  plant  does  not  pay  the 
dividends,  but  he  must  have  it.  The  housing  corporations,  such  as  those 
in  Bridgeport  and  Worcester,  as  well  as  others  I  might  mention,  are  not 
expecting  to  pay  dividends  direct.  At  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  the  increased 
investments  show  a  handsome  profit.  I  do  not  think  the  new  service  cor- 
porations that  do  not  make  a  service  charge  to  the  individual  will  show 
any  return  beyond  perhaps  1  or  2  per  cent. 


96  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 


THE  GOVERNMENT'S  HOUSING  EXPERIMENT 

By  LeRoy  K.  Sherman 
President,  United  States  Housing  Corporation,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  United  States  Government  was  forced  to  take  measures  to  pro- 
vide housing  in  those  localities  which  were  congested  by  activities  in  the 
production  of  war  materials  and  the  construction  of  ships. 

The  United  States  Housing  Corporation — a  Government  Depart- 
ment—completed the  construction  of  some  6,000  houses,  located  in  24 
different  places  from  Vallejo,  California,  to  Bath,  Maine.  These  houses 
were  rented  as  rapidly  as  completed  and  they  are  now  being  sold.  The 
law  provides  that  first  choice,  after  the  houses  are  valued  by  a  Board 
of  Appraisers,  shall  be  sold  to  the  individual  home  owners.  The  terms 
of  the  sale  are  10  per  cent  down  and  monthly  payments  of  1  per  cent 
which  includes  any  interest  charges.  It  is  expected  that  all  of  the 
houses  will  be  sold  and  in  the  hands  of  the  individual  home  owners  by 
the  first  of  July,  1920. 

The  housing  shortage  is  well  nigh  universal,  and  loans  for  housing 
projects  are  now  being  made  by  the  Governments  of  France,  England 
and  Canada.  In  addition  Government  Bureaus  giving  indirect  aid 
have  been  established  in  Italy,  Sweden,  the  Argentine  Republic  and 
elsewhere.  In  our  country  there  is  need  for  remedial  legislation  to  aid 
private  financing  for  housing,  such,  for  example,  as  is  provided  in  the 
bill  of  Senator  Calder.  A  small  agency  to  coordinate  and  make  available 
housing  data  and  standards  as  provided  by  Senator  Tinkham's  bill  is 
very  desirable.  Such  a  department  is  expedient  from  the  fact  that  the 
Housing  Corporation  has  during  the  past  year  received  over  2,000 
different  inquiries  relative  to  industrial  housing,  and  that  it  has  fur- 
nished some  300  paid-for  copies  of  Government  Housing  Plans. 

There  is  no  apparent  intent  on  the  part  of  the  Government  to  con- 
tinue in  the  business  of  directly  furnishing  houses.  I  do  not  think 
that  the  Government  in  this  country  should  directly  furnish  houses, 
as  private  capital  can  be  made  available. 

Most  war  expenditures  are  an  entire  loss.  The  Government's  hous- 
ing venture  has  returned  a  most  excellent  salvage.  There  has  been 
a  good  financial  return  as  well  as  the  incidental  fact  of  making  several 
thousand  Americans  owners  of  their  own  homes. 

When  the  Government  housing  for  war  industrial  workers  was  ini- 
tiated, then  for  the  first  time  in  history  collective  housing  operations 
were  comprehensively  undertaken.  For  the  first  time  all  of  the  various 
agents  of  housing — the  realtors,  architects,  engineers,  town  planners, 
builders  and  material  men — ^were  united  in  one  building  corporation. 
That  plan  has  carried.  There  are  many  score  of  housing  corporations 
operating  on  that  same  basis. 

A  most  careful  analysis  of  the  cost  of  housing  has  beeus  prepared 
recently  by  some  of  the  architects,  engineers  and  builders  who  served 
with  the  Housing  Corporation  and  who  have  had  national  experience  in 
their  lines  of  work.    Under  this  analysis  we  find  that  the  cost  of  housing 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  97 

in  June,  1919,  had  increased  70  per  cent  over  the  cost  of  housing  in  1913. 
The  analysis  further  shows  that  the  increased  cost  of  materials  and  the 
increased  cost  of  labor  were  each  equal  to  70  per  cent.  During  the  past 
six  months  there  has  been  a  somewhat  further  increase  in  prices.  This 
percentage  was  worked  out  very  carefully  from  specific  cases  and  there 
are  wide  variations  from  this  figure  in  particular  localities.  The  details 
of  this  cost  analysis  have  been  recently  published  in  the  ''American 
Contractor"  and  the  "Engineering  News-Record." 

The  solution  of  the  housing  shortage,  under  the  high  prices  of  today 
will  come  from  collective  building  by  such  housing  corporations  com- 
bined with  the  constructive  genius  who  can,  in  his  designs,  assemble 
such  materials  as  will  produce  a  good  house  with  the  least  expenditure 
for  field  labor.  Of  the  six  thousand  houses  constructed  by  the  U.  S. 
Housing  Corporation  the  bulk  of  them  consist  of  4,  5  or  6-room,  two- 
story  frame  detached  houses.  Next  in  number  follows  the  stucco  house, 
then  the  vitrified  tile  and  finally  brick.  The  selection  of  material  was 
governed  largely  by  the  rules  of  the  War  Industries  Board,  the  utiliza- 
tion of  local  material  to  avoid  transportation,  and  the  scarcity  of  cement. 
A  very  considerable  number  of  other  types  of  houses  were  built,  such 
as  the  double  house,  rows  of  brick  houses  in  blocks,  apartment  buildings 
and,  occasionally,  two-story  flats.  As  a  sales  proposition  to  the  indi- 
vidual owner  the  two-story  five  and  six  room  detached  house  was  in 
greatest  demand. 

Apartment  buildings  (flats)  were  satisfactory  from  the  renting 
viewpoint,  but  do  not  attract  purchasers  among  the  individual  home 
owners.  Most  of  the  houses  were  provided  with  basements  or  cellars 
and  generally  the  foundation  walls  of  the  cellars  were  monolithic  con- 
crete. In  many  cases  concrete  block  were  used.  A  concrete  floor  was 
provided.  It  was  found  there  was  much  complaint  from  wet  cellars. 
This  was  generally  remedied  by  simply  banking  up  the  surface  of  the 
back  filling  which  had  settled  around  the  cellar  walls.  Concrete  block 
walls  for  cellars  should  be  plastered  on  the  outside  if  they  are  to  be  as 
water  resisting  as  the  monolithic  walls.  The  specifications  called  for  a 
lean  mixture  of  concrete  for  cellar  floors.  This  was  a  mistake  and 
made  trouble  from  dampness  which  could  have  been  avoided  had  a  richer 
mixture  been  provided.  Hot  air  furnaces  were  generally  installed  in 
the  basement  for  heating  the  houses. 

In  this  Government  housing  experiment  we  have  learned  to  do 
many  things.  What  is  still  more  valuable,  we  have  also  learned  things 
not  to  do.  We  have  learned  that  the  successful  type  of  house  varies  by 
localities.  We  have  learned  that  proper  town  planning  and  planting 
can  increase  the  selling  value  of  the  house  more  than  any  other  dollar 
of  investment.  We  have  also  learned  that  the  idea  of  some  town  planners 
in  omitting  alleys  and  providing  unduly  wide  lots  is  a  physical  and 
financial  mistake.  We  have  learned  that  plumbing  is  unnecessarily 
expensive  (from  $50  to  $100  per  house)  and  that  it  is  caused  by  many 
municipal  plumbing  codes  which  have  been  established  by  selfish  inter- 
ests. We  have  learned  that  standardized  houses  can  be  built  which 
will  not  look  standardized.  The  selection  of  a  housing  site  is  often 
governed  more  by  the  probable  cost  of  public  utilities  than  it  is  by  the 
first  cost  of  land. .  We  have  learned,  but  we  have  not  successfully 
taught  our  tenants,  that  rents  include  many  things  besides  profit  to  the 


98  PROCEEDINGS    OF    NATIONAL    CONFERENCE 

owner.     In  general  it  will  amount  to  about  13  per  cent  per  annum,  of 
the  value  of  the  property  as  follows : 

Maintenance    2    % 

Taxes    1.5% 

Insurance    3% 

Depreciation 2.5% 

General  Expense 5% 

Vacancies    1.2% 

Interest  5    % 

Total 13.0% 

The  new  house  of  today  has  to  compete  with  the  house  built  in  pre- 
war times.  The  rental  of  these  houses  has  increased  perhaps  20  to  30 
per  cent.  This  represents  a  satisfactory  income  to  the  owner  of  the 
pre-war  property.  An  entirely  different  situation  exists  with  respect 
to  the  owner  renting  a  house  built  in  1919.  A  30  per  cent  increase  over 
1913  costs  will  not  bring  the  owner  of  a  new  building  a  sufficient  return 
when  the  new  owner  has  to  compete  with  the  owners  of  property  built 
before  the  war. 

In  many  places  in  the  country  the  housing  shortage  is  so  acute 
that  new  buildings  are  readily  rented  or  sold  at  today's  prices.  The 
average  builder  of  today  has  to  adopt  the  most  economical  and  efficient 
procedure  in  collective  housing  construction,  standardization,  and  pro- 
vide conveniences  and  artistic  arrangements,  so  that  the  added  attractive- 
ness will  invite  occupants  in  spite  of  the  higher  rental  or  cost. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  99 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  FIRE  PREVENTION 

^^  Fires  in  tJie  liome  are  easier  to  prevent  than  to  extinguisJi. 

*^  Unlike  factory  fires,  many  of  which  are  due  to  causes  inseparable 
from  manufacturing,  practically  every  dwelling  house  fire  is  due  to  care- 
lessness or  neglect.  Especial  care  should  he  taken  in  the  home  to  pre- 
vent fires  from  starting,  because  when  they  do  start  there  is  seldom  a 
man  about  to  extinguish  them.  Where  women  and  defenseless  children 
are  housed,  every  human  consideration  demands  the  utmost  vigilance  on 
the  part  of  those  responsible  for  their  welfare.'*  {From  Bulletin, 
^'Dwelling  House  Hazards'*  of  the  National  Fire  Protection  Associa- 
tion.) 

General  Discussion  op  Defective  Construction  in  Dwellings  and 
Its  Relation  to  Their  Fire  Hazard 

The  American  home— usually  a  model  of  convenience  and  comfort — 
has  been  developed  with  little  thought  or  consideration  as  to  the  fire 
hazards  or  the  means  of  safe-guarding  lives  and  property  against  the 
ravages  of  fire.  We  have  made  wonderful  progress  along  other  lines 
tending  toward  conservation  of  natural  resources,  not  excepting  conser- 
vation of  life,  yet  today  the  majority  of  houses  are  built  to  burn — ^not 
to  endure. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  annual  fir6  loss  of  the  United  States  has 
represented  an  amazing  and  needless  waste — loss  of  life,  employment, 
property  and  natural  resources.  In  all  too  many  cases,  when  a  fire 
once  starts  in  a  home,  the  building  is  soon  transformed  into  a  smoking 
ruin,  indicating  a  serious  defect  characteristic  of  modern  construction. 
This  annual  fire  loss  is  the  more  significant  because  the  majority  of  fires 
occur  in  the  home.  Statistics  gathered  from  the  reports  of  the  Actuarial 
Bureau  of  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  show,  for  example, 
that  during  1917  there  were  232,021  dwelling  house  fires  with  a  conse- 
quent loss  of  $66,166,420,  the  number  representing  65  per  cent  of  the 
total  fires  reported  and  the  loss  28.5  per  cent  of  the  whole. 

While  much  of  this  loss  is  traceable  to  household  carelessness  other 
prolific  causes  such  as  overheated  furnaces,  defective  chimneys  and 
flues,  and  the  like,  are  related  to  the  construction  of  the  house.  Atten- 
tion to  these  features  as  well  as  those  designed  to  prevent  the  spread  of 
fire  within  the  dwelling  would  go  far  toward  reducing  this  annual  loss 
to  the  householders  of  America. 

As  a  guide  to  the  better  protection  of  lives  and  homes  against  fire> 
your  Committee  recommends  the  Code  of  Suggestions  for  Construction 
and  Fire  Protection,  issued  by  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwrit- 
ers. The  data  and  suggestions  contained  in  this  code  which  relate  to  the 
construction  of  concrete  dwellings  have  been  freely  used  by  your  Com- 
mittee in  the  preparation  of  its  report.  We  quote  in  part  from  Section 
2,  Part  I,  under  ''Dwelling  Construction  Under  Slight  Control,"  as 
bearing  on  the  importance  of  this  subject  and  the  need  for  legislation 
and  standards,  governing  the  construction  of  dwellings : 


100  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

1.  Municipal  building  codes  place  little  restriction  upon  the  construction 
of  dwellings.  Within  the  fire  limits  which  commonly  comprise  a  small  con- 
gested portion  of  a  city's  area,  frame  dwellings  are  usually  excluded;  wooden 
shingle  roofs  prohibited;  regulations  regarding  chimneys,  heating  appliances 
and  lighting  are  enforced  and  in  most  codes  some  provisions  for  fire-stopping 
walls  and  partitions  are  made,  but  not  sufficiently  explicit  usually  to  be  of  much 
real  service.  Outside  the  fire  limits  any  type  of  construction  is  permitted  and 
the  enforcement  of  other  regulations  is  generally  lax.     *     *     * 

2.  Beyond  the  boundary  lines  of  cities  and  towns  which  have  building 
ordinances  there  are  hundreds  of  suburban  real  estate  developments  and  villages 
which  have  little  or  no  building  regulations  and  also  vast  numbers  of  dwellings 
scattered  through  the  country  which  are  under  no  restrictions  whatever.  Every 
builder  is  a  law  unto  himself. 

3.  Dwellings  have  the  least  protection  of  any  class  of  buildings.  This 
results  from  a  combination  of  careless  construction,  a  lack  of  appreciation  of 
the  fire  hazard  which  always  exists,  and  isolation  of  the  structures.  The  ma- 
jority are  absolutely  devoid  of  fire  resistive  features.     *     *     * 

4.  For  people  in  moderate  circumstances  the  home  often  represents  a  large 
proportion  of  the  family  capital  and  in  all  conditions  of  life  it  usually  shelters 
things  which  are  cherished  because  of  tender  associations  and  hallowed  memo- 
ries; things  so  treasured  that  their  value  could  not  be  measured  in  gold  or  so 
rare  that  money  could  not  replace  them.  Therefore  the  prevalent  neglect  of 
structurally  safeguarding  the  home  is  surprising  from  a  purely  economic  stand- 
point. No  honest  person  can  have  his  house  burn  without  suffering  serious 
financial  loss  even  though  supposed  to  be  fully  insured.  However,  the  indiffer- 
ence to  protection  of  property  is  not  a  tenth  part  so  astonishing  as  the  fact  that 
not  one  private  house  in  a  thousand  is  constructed  with  any  serious  thought 
regarding  the  safe  escape  of  occupants  in  case  of  fire  although  the  annual  loss 
of  life  due  to  dwelling  house  fires  is  appalling.     *     *     * 

5.  When  we  consider  that  our  millions  of  homes  shelter  the  lives  of  all 
those  held  most  dear — the  old  and  feeble,  the  sick  and  infirm,  the  young  and 
Incoftipetent, — many  of  whom  would  be  absolutely  helpless  if  trapped  in  an  upper 
story  by  fire,  the  situation  is  well  nigh  incomprehensible.  The  only  explanation 
for  this  condition  must  be  the  lack  of  appreciation  of  the  hazard  which  exists 
and  the  ease  with  which  it  can  be  entirely  removed  or  greatly  reduced.     *     *     * 

Section  6.     Reasons  why  dwellings  burn  freely  and  the  remedy. 

1.  The  proportion  of  dwellings  which  catch  fire  and  are  a  total  loss,  or 
which  have  building  and  contents  ruined,  is  very  high.  The  reasons  are  plain. 
First,  in  cities  such  buildings  are  usually  located  in  outer  areas  more  or  less 
remote  from  fire  fighting  apparatus.  Many  are  situated  outside  of  city  limits 
or  in  villages  or  suburban  developments  where  fire  protection  appliances  are 
meager  and  unreliable.  *  *  *  Second,  dwellings  are  generally  small  and  low 
so  that  a  fire  well  started  before  discovery  is  likely  to  envelop  all  portions  before 
outside  assistance  can  become  effective.  Third,  the  majority  of  dwellings  are 
of  very  combustible  construction  with  open  stairways  lined  with  varnished  or 
painted  woodwork  connecting  all  stories  and  with  no  provision  for  arresting 
the  spread  of  fire  from  floor  to  floor  or  from  room  to  room.  The  cellar  where 
the  heating  appliance  is  usually  located  often  contains  much  combustible  ma- 
terial, a  combination  which  is  dangerous.  Moreover,  the  cellar  is  more  or  less 
directly  connected  by  open  channels  with  all  parts  of  the  house  including  the 
garret.  This  results  from  lack  of  proper  protection  around  water,  gas  and 
steam  pipes,  hot  air  pipes,  dumb  waiter  shafts  and  open  space  through  walls 
and  partitions.  Fourth,  the  nature  of  the  occupancy  is  such  that  much  of  the 
time  there  are  not  enough  able  bodied  occupants  present  to  do  effective  fire  fight- 
ing from   within. 

2.  These  four  conditions  combined,  result  in  the  enormous  property  fire 
loss  and  the  sacrifice  of  many  lives.  The  lamentable  feature  of  the  situation 
is  that  a  large  part  of  this  loss  could  be  prevented  by  reasonable  precautions 
in  construction  and  careful  observance  of  the  ordinary  rules  of  fire  protection. 
The  cost  of  the  former  would  be  comparatively  small,  the  only  expenditure  for 
the  latter  would  be  a  little  thoughtful  vigilance. 

The  following  recommendations,  among  those  made  by  the  Bureau 


ON  CONCRETE  HOWS^  0,<HNSfi:HUaTRQN: ,  101 

of  Standards  (Circular  No.  75 — Safety  for  the  Household)  all  have  a 
more  or  less  bearing  on  the  fire  hazard  and  should  receive  due  consid- 
eration when  selecting  or  building  a  home: 

I.  All  steam,  water,  gas,  and  hot-air  pipes  should  be  properly  located  and 

installed. 

«  *  *  *  • 

4.  The  heating  arrangements,  including  furnaces,  boilers  and  stoves,  should 
be  isolated,  and  protective  measures  should  be  adopted  to  prevent  fire  originat- 
ing at  such  devices  from  being  quickly  communicated  to  the  remainder  of  the 
building. 

5.  The  electric  and  gas  installations  should  be  carefully  installed  and  in- 
spected so  as  to  minimize  danger  from  defective  wires,  unsuitable  switches, 
outlets,  and  sockets,  leaky  pipes  and  burners,  and  other  defective  devices  where 
the  electrical  energy  and  the  gas  are  utilized. 

6.  Suitable  safeguards  should  be  provided  against  the  dangers  from  heating 
devices  and  open  flames  to  be  used  about  the  premises. 

7.  Suitable  fire  stops  should  be  provided  in  the  construction  of  the  walls  to 
insure  against  rapid  spread  of  fire. 

Note. — Continuous  air  spaces  under  floors  and  in  walls,  which  permit  fire  to 
smolder  for  a  long  time,  often  without  being  noticed,  should  be  avoided. 

8.  Windows,  doors  and  other  external  openings  should  be  protected 
against  fire  from  near-by  windows  in  the  adjacent  or  from  opposite  windows  in 
the  same  building. 

Note. — Wire  glass  often  affords  an  e;xcellent  means  of  protection  where  such 
exposure  exists. 

***** 

10.  Roof  construction,  which  provides  an  inflammable  place  for  fire  brands 
from  outside  fires  to  alight,  should  be  avoided. 

Note. — A  striking  illustration  is  the  wooden  shingle  roof,  by  means  of 
which  many  conflagrations  have  been  spread. 

II.  Wooden  lath  on  thin  joists,  a  construction  which  burns  through  rapidly, 
should   be   avoided. 

12.  The  use  of  wooden  and  other  inflammable  materials  about  chimneys 
should  be  reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  continuous  vertical  air  spaces  should  be 
eliminated  by  means  of  incombustible  fire  stops. 

13.  Woodwork  surrounding  hot-air  pipes,  flues  and  registers  should  be 
properly  protected  by  incombustible  material. 

The  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  in  its  Circular  No.  75  has  the  follow- 
ing to  say  regarding  ''Exposure  Fires:" 

''The  remedy  to  "be  applied  for  the  hazards  of  'exposure'  fires  is  usually  found 
in  fire-resistive  construction.  This  means  a  relief  from  the  danger  from  fires  in 
adjoining  buildings  and  a  step  towards  elimination  of  conflagrations.  Many  of 
the  present  types  of  dioelling  construction  in  this  country  constitute  hazards 
which  frequently  result  in  a  very  serious  community  disaster  when  a  fire  orig- 
inating in  one  building  spreads  to  neighboring  buildings  and  gets  beyond  con- 
trol of  the  fire-fighting  facilities  of  the  community.'" 

Methods  op  Securing  Maximum  Fire  Protection 

In  considering  the  question  of  fire  protection  and  insurance  we  have 
endeavored  to  offer  recommendations  that  will  provide  for  a  safe,  prac- 
tical and  conservative  construction,  readily  adapted  to  dwellings  of 
concrete.  Although  the  use  of  concrete  in  residence  construction  has 
been  relatively  limited  compared  with  the  extensive  use  that  has  been 
made  of  it  in  other  building  construction,  the  economic  significance  of 
the  enormous  annual  fire  loss  in  the  United  States  is  expressed  in  the 
ever  increasing  interest  in  the  use  of  concrete  in  home  building.     This 


102  PiiOCp^I^ma^  OF  NAfiHOI^AL  CONFERENCE 

has  been  especially  noted  recently  in  many  localities  where  the  problem 
of  housing  workingmen  in  industrial  communities  has  called  for  imme- 
diate and  satisfactory  solution.  The  wide  use  of  concrete  for  construct- 
ing industrial  buildings  has  led  in  many  ways  to  an  extended  and  grow- 
ing use  of  this  material  in  large  industrial  housing  developments.  That 
real  fire-resistive  construction  is  the  exception  rather  than  the  rule  is 
due  largely  to  a  mistaken  idea  of  the  cost  that  building  fire-safe  involves. 
The  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  classifies  dwellings  as 
of  four  types  according  to  construction;  the  first  three  types  are  pe- 
culiarly adapted  to  the  employment  of  concrete. 

Type  1.  Buildings  fully  protected  properly  called  "fireproof"  in  which  all 
structural  parts,  including  doors,  windows  and  trim  are  of  incombustible  con- 
struction. Some  buildings  which  belong  in  this  class  have  minor  doors  and 
windows  of  combustible  material,  but  where  these  do  not  serve  as  important 
cut-offs,  or  are  not  likely  to  be  subject  to  serious  fire  exposure,  their  presence 
in  the  building  would  probably  not  materially  increase  the  hazard. 

Type  2.  Buildings  with  partial  protection;  commonly  (though  improperly) 
called  "fireproof."  The  term  "semi-fireproof"  would  properly  be  applicable.  Such 
buildings  have  walls,  floors,  roofs  and  partitions  of  incombustible  construction, 
but  with  wooden  floor  finish,  wooden  trim,  and  'Ordinary  wooden  doors  and 
windows. 

Type  3.  Buildings  with  walls  of  incombustible  construction,  but  having  all 
interior  construction,  including  the  roof,-  of  wood;  the  roof  covering  either  being 
of  wooden  shingles  or  some  type  of  fire-resistive  material.     *     *     * 

Type  4.  Buildings  constructed  entirely  of  wood  either  with  or  without 
fire-resistive  roof  covering.  Sometimes  the  walls  are  veneered  with  brick,  or 
covered  with  stucco. 

Type  1  buildings  are  in  a  sense  idealistic,  although  an  increasing 
number  is  being  erected  each  year.  The  National  Board  of  Fire  Under- 
writers refers  to  buildings  of  Type  2  as  follows : 

''They  are  not  suhject  to  spread  of  fire  through  concealed  spaces  which  is 
the  worst  constructional  defect  in  dwellings;  nevertheless,  they  are  liable  to 
destruction  due  to  fire  communicating  from  one  portion  of  the  house  to  another 
through  open  stairways,  aided  by  the  free  use  of  wooden  trim,  doors  and  win- 
dows. Many  houses  of  this  type  have  been  built  in  late  years,  some  being  costly 
and  others  medium  priced  buildings  erected  in  groups  for  workingmen's  houses 
in  connection  with  industrial  plants.  With  a  little  thoughtful  care  in  the  design 
of  such  buildings,  and  the  exercise  of  prudence  in  selecting  materials  for  trim, 
particularly  where  they  are  used  in  the  place  of  fire  barriers,  this  class  of  resi- 
dences can  be  made  exceedingly  safe.  There  are  several  methods  of  constructing 
non-combustible  dwellings  of  this  type  which  cost  but  little  more  than  a  frame 
building." 

There  are  a  number  of  ways  in  which  concrete  can  be  used  to  obtain 
varying  degrees  of  fire-safeness,  secured  by  types  1  and  2.  Briefly,  there 
are  four  systems  suitable  for  concrete  dwelling  construction  recom- 
mended by  the  Committee  as  falling  under  these  headings : 

A.  Walls,  partitions,  floors  and  roof  of  monolithic  concrete  construction, 
reinforced  where  and  as  necessary, 

B.  So  called  "unit  systems"  which  mean  that  precast  slabs  supported  by 
pilasters  of  concrete  precast  or  cast  in  place,  constitute  the  walls,  floors,  roof 
and  partitions.    Walls,  partitions,  floors  and  roof  may  be  solid  or  hollow. 

C.  Walls  of  concrete  block,  tile  or  similar  units,  with  partitions  of  metal 
studding  and  lath  or  of  hollow  concrete  tile,  or  other  incombustible  material, 
covered  with  plaster.  Floors  and  roof  may  be  solid  slabs  of  reinforced  concrete 
or  may  have  metal  joists  covered  by  thin  reinforced  concrete  slabs,  concrete  tile 
or  cement  asbestos  shingles  or  other  approved  covering.  Walls,  floors,  partitions 
and  roof  may  be  solid  or  hollow. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  103 

D.  A  metal  frame  resembling  that  used  in  a  house  built  of  wood,  to  which 
metal  lath  or  fabric  is  fastened  and  the  exterior  covered  with  Portland  cement 
stucco.  Metal  lath  may  be  fastened  to  this  frame  on  the  interior  which  is 
plastered  with  ordinary  plaster.  Partitions  may  be  of  metal  frame  and  lath 
like  the  exterior  walls  or  of  hollow  concrete  tile  or  other  incombustible  partition 
material.  Floors  and  roof  may  be  solid  slabs  of  reinforced  concrete  or  may  have 
metal  joists  covered  by  thin  reinforced  concrete  slabs  or  other  approved  cover- 
ing.    Metal   lath   is  attached   underneath  the  joists,   then  plastered. 

The  relative  security  of  Type  3  buildings  depends  in  considerable 
measure  on  the  character  of  the  roof  covering.  Combustible  roof  cov- 
erings, especially  wood  shingles,  constitute  an  important  fire  hazard. 
The  extent  of  the  damage  to  the  building  would  be  much,  greater  in 
case  of  a  fire  getting  beyond  control  in  such  a  building  than  in  buildings 
of  Types  1  and  2.  These  statements  apply  with  equal  force  to  buildings 
of  Type  4,  but  there  is  the  additional  hazard  due  to  the  flue  spaces  be- 
tween the  wall  studding  through  which  a  fire  originating  in  the  base- 
ment or  attic  can  sweep  with  incredible  rapidity.  This  hazard  can  be 
almost  entirely  eliminated  by  fire-stopping  the  walls,  but  unfortunately 
efficient  fire-stopping  has  not  come  into  general  practice.  In  respect 
to  the  danger  from  exposure  to  fires  in  neighboring  buildings,  the  house 
covered  with  portland  cement  stucco  particularly  on  metal  lath  or  fabric 
has  an  obvious  advantage  over  the  house  with  wood  weatherboarding, 
especially  if  incombustible  roof  covering  is  used  in  both  cases. 

Supplementing  the  instructions  for  the  reduction  of  fire  hazards 
given  in  Part  I,  your  Committee  makes  additional  recommendations, 
applying  particularly  to  the  reduction  in  the  fire  hazard  in  Type  3 
houses. 

CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS,  WALLS  AND  PARTITIONS 

Substantial  walls  are  of  great  structural  importance  in  every  dwell- 
ing. They  must  not  only  render  satisfactory  service  as  regards  carrying 
capacity  and  resistance  to  weather,  but  they  should  also  be  efficient  in 
case  of  fire,  which  means  that  they  shall  be  substantial  enough  to  with- 
stand the  expansion  stresses  resulting  from  continued  severe  heat. 

"It  is  poor  economy  to  sTcivtp  footings.  If  they  are  insufficient  for  the  load 
they  carry  settlement  is  sure  to  come  in  time,  producing  ugly  wall  cracks,  mis- 
fitting doors,  openings  which  will  let  in  ground  water  and  other  defects,  which 
plague  the  occupants  as  long  as  the  house  exists.  The  settlement  of  foundations 
is  also  liable  to  produce  chimney  cracks,  and  so  cause  a  fire  hazard." 

Partitions  of  concrete  units  or  of  metal  lath  and  portland  cement 
mortar  are  to  be  preferred  for  Types  1  and  2  previously  mentioned — 
and  also  for  bearing  partitions  in  the  other  types. 

FLOORS 

The  National  Board  of  Fire  UnderAvriters  makes  the  following  rec- 
ommendation regarding  the  importance  of  constructing  a  horizontal 
cut-off  for  cellars : 

1.  As  the  heating  equipment  of  most  dwellings  is  located  in  the  cellar  or 
basement,  where  subject  only  to  occasional  supervision;  and  as  that  space  Is  also 
usually  a  storeroom  for  fuel  and  all  sorts  of  combustible  material,  the  chances 
of  a  fire  are  evident.  ♦  *  *  The  remedy  is  to  confine  such  fires  at  the  place 
of  origin  by  a  cut-ofC  between  the  cellar  and  the  story  above  by  making  the 


104  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

separating  floor  as  fire  resistive  as  possible,  consistent  with  the  type  of  con- 
struction and  to  properly  protect  all  openings  to  same  as  herein  provided. 

2.  The  best  possible  cut-off  is  a  fireproof  floor.  Such  floors  are  a  requisite 
for  dwellings  of  Types  I  and  II.  They  are  equally  applicable  to  dwellings  of 
Type  III.  *  *  *  They  should  be  used  wherever  possible,  for  they  constitute 
a  distinct  safeguard.     *     *     * 

Such  floors  may  be  constructed  entirely  of  reinforced  concrete;  a 
composite  construction  of  reinforced  concrete  beams  filled  between  with 
hollow  tile  or  metal  or  plaster  forms  with  a  reinforced  concrete  covering 
may  be  employed. 

3.  In  buildings  where  steel  beams  are  not  otherwise  used,  it  is  probable 
that  some  variety  of  concrete  floor  construction  would  be  the  simplest  and  most 
economical.  The  forms  could  be  easily  supported — no  hoisting  of  concrete 
would  be  necessary  and  as  the  floor  would  be  laid  before  the  rest  of  the  building 
was  erected,  all  the  form  lumber  could  be  used  again  for  other  purposes.  In 
order  to  reduce  the  span  and  thickness  of  the  floor  slab  and  thereby  lessen  the 
expense,  the  floor  could  be  divided  into  panels  by  having  beam  supports  at 
one  or  more  intervals.     *     *     * 

4.  Reliable  building  constructors  state  that  such  concrete  floors  can  be 
built  in  most  localities  at  practically  the  same  price  as  first-class  wooden  con- 
struction. Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  fireproof  floor  is  also  waterproof,  vermin 
proof  and  thoroughly  rigid,  it  would  justify  increased  cost.  If  desired,  a  wooden 
finish  flooring  may  be  laid  over  the  concrete  (see  Sec.  29,  Para.  2,  "Dwelling 
Houses — A  Code  of  Suggestions  for  Construction  and  Fire  Protection,"  pub- 
lished by  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters.)  The  supporting  beams 
under  the  floor,  whether  steel  or  wood,  must  be  protected;  the  former  by  two 
inches  of  fire-proofing  and  the  latter  by  at  least  one-half  inch  of  metal  lath 
and  plaster,  plaster-board  or  one-quarter  inch  asbestos  mill  board. 

5.  In  dwellings  of  Type  III  where  it  may  be  impossible  to  secure  a  high 
degree  of  perfection  afforded  by  a  fire-proof  floor  for  a  cellar  cut  off,  *  *  * 
it  is  still  very  essential  that  efficient  temporary  protection  be  provided  and 
that  every  precaution  be  taken  to  prevent  a  cellar  fire  spreading  to  floors 
above,  at  least  long  enough  to  afford  reasonable  time  to  subdue  it.  This  can 
be  accomplished  by  protecting  all  communicating  openings  as  elsewhere  pro- 
vided, and  by  covering  the  ceiling  with  fire-resistive  material. 

For  regulations  governing  use  of  wooden  joists  or  floor  beams,  see 
Part  4,  Sec.  28,  ''Dwelling  Houses — A  Code  of  Suggestions  for  Con- 
struction and  Fire  Protection,"  recommended  by  the  National  Board 
of  Fire  Underwriters. 

The  best  results  in  ceiling  covering,  when  the  floor  is  not  concrete 
will  be  obtained  by  the  use  of  portland  cement  plaster  on  metal  lath. 
As  an  instance  of  the  protection  afforded  the  rest  of  the  house  by  proper 
basement  cut-off,  may  be  cited  the  case  of  a  residence  in  Youngstown, 
Ohio,  in  which  a  fire  started  in  a  pile  of  wood  in  the  heater  room  and 
was  held  in  check  in  the  basement  by  portland  cement  plaster  over 
metal  lath,  until  it  was  put  out  by  the  fire  department. 

In  the  City  of  Chicago  from  September  1,  1918,  to  April  1,  1919, 
there  were  237  fires  in  coal  bins  of  houses  and  apartments,  which  were 
reported  to  the  Fire  Marshal's  Office. 

ROOFS 

The  same  Bulletin  contains  the  following  regarding  approved 
roofing : 

1.  Wherever  possible  use  the  fire-resistive  roof  covering.  The  safety  which 
It  offers  is  well  worth  the  additional  expense.     There  is  a  variety  of  approved 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  105 

roofings  on  the  market  which  will  afford  satisfactory  protection  and  service.  A 
number  of  them  are  but  little  more  expensive  than  first-class  wooden  shingles. 
The  first  costs  of  a  roofing  material  must  be  averaged  with  the  years  of  service 
it  will  render  in  order  to  ascertain  the  real  expense  of  maintaining  the  con- 
struction. The  life  of  the  best  fire-resistive  roofing  is  considerably  longer  than 
that  of  the  wooden  shingle  and  this  fact  should  be  considered  in  selecting. 

Among  the  recommended  roofings  may  be  included  monolithic  rein- 
forced concrete,  concrete  roofing  tile  and  cement  asbestos  shingles. 

2.  The  fire  resistance  of  ordinary  roofs  can  be  considerably  increased  by 
covering  the  rafters  on  the  under  side  with  metal  lath  and  plaster,  asbestos 
mill  board  or  asbestos  building  lumber,  gypsum  plaster  board  or  any  other  in- 
combustible heat  insulating  material.  Such  coverings  add  much  to  the  com- 
fort of  a  house  by  making  the  attic  cooler  in  summer  and  warmer  in  winter. 
The  insulation  can  be  further  improved  by  a  two-inch  layer  of  mineral  wool 
placed  between  the  rafters  and  supported  by  any  of  the  board  materials  above 
mentioned: 

Wooden  Shingle  Roofing 

1.  The  great  danger  of  the  wooden  shingle  roof  is  from  chimney  sparks 
or  flying  brands  from  burning  buildings.  Wooden  shingle  roofs  in  combination 
with  chimneys,  defective  or  otherwise,  have  probably  been  accountable  for  more 
dwelling  house  fires  than  any  other  defect  in  construction  or  equipment. 
Records  show  that  they  are  responsible  for  over  twenty  per  cent  of  all  fire  losses 
in  dwellings.  The  wooden  shingle  has  also  been  justly  called  a  "Conflagration 
breeder,"  for  experience  has  shown  that  many  of  our  large  conflagrations  have 
been  spread  and  rendered  uncontrollable  by  the  flying  brand  hazard  of  this 
material. 

CHIMNEYS,  FLUES,  SMOKE  PIPES  AND  FIRE  PLACES 

The  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  Circular  No.  75,  has  the  following 
to  say  regarding  chimneys  and  flues: 

"One  of  the  serious  fire  hazards  is  that  due  to  defective  chimneys  and  flues. 
Good  construction  will  minimize  this  hazard  and  will  render  the  formation  of 
cracks  later,  due  to  vibration,  loading,  settling  or  expansion  and  contraction,  less 
likely." 

The  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  makes  the  following  rec- 
ommendation regarding  the  use  of  portland  cement  mortar : 

"Portland  cement  mortar  only  should  he  used  in  the  construction  of  chim- 
neys and  flues.  Portland  cement  mortar  is  very  superior  to  lime  mortar  in  resist- 
ing the  action  of  heat  and  flue  gases.  The  latter  disintegrates  in  time  and  is 
liable  to  fall  out  of  the  joints,  thus  producing  a  hole  thru  which  a  fire  is  likely 
to  originate.  Some  building  laws  specify  that  cement  mortar  can  only  be  used 
for  the  foundation  of  the  chimney  and  the  portion  exposed  to  the  weather  above 
the  roof.  This  is  ununse ;  for  reasons  stated  above  the  whole  inside  of  a  chimney 
exposed  to  heat,  should  also  be  built  with  cement  mortar.'' 

Dwelling  house  chimneys  should  have  walls  at  least  4  inches  thick 
and  be  lined  with  a  suitable  flue  lining.  In  monolithic  concrete  chim- 
neys this  flue  lining  will  serve  as  an  inside  form.  If  chimneys  are  not 
lined  they  should  be  not  less  than  8  inches  tliick.  It  is  recommended, 
however,  that  lined  chimneys  of  such  thickness  be  used  in  localities 
subject  to  severe  winters  and  where  continuous  hot  fires  are  a  necessity. 
A  concrete  chimney  should  be  reinforced  in  both  directions,  otherwise 
it  is  liable  to  crack  through  temperature  stress  or  unequal  settlement  of 
foundation. 

Not  more  than  two  flues  should  be  permitted  in  the  same  chimney 


106  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

space,  and  the  joints  of  the  two  sets  of  flue  linings  should  be  offset  at 
least  6  inches. 

The  joints  on  the  inside  of  all  chimneys  and  flues  should  be  struck 
smooth. 

All  chimneys  should  be  built  from  the  ground  up  and  all  their 
weight  should  be  carried  by  their  proper  foundations.  Foundations  for 
exterior  chimneys  should  be  started  well  below  the  frost  line.  Connec- 
tion between  chimney  and  roof  should  be  made  with  sheet  metal  flashing 
arranged  to  overlap  and  allow  for  movement  that  may  occur  between 
chimney  and  roof. 

''No  wooden  heams  or  joists  shall  de  placed  within  2  inches  of  the  outside 
face  of  a  chimney  or  flue,  whether  the  same  'be  for  smoke,  air  or  any  other  pur- 
pose. No  woodwork,  shall  he  within  4  inches  of  the  back  face  of  the  wall  of  any 
fireplace.  All  spaces  between  the  chimney  and  wooden  beams  shall  be  filled  toith 
some  porous  incombustible  Tnaterial  such  as  mineral  wool  cinders,  etc.,  this 
material  to  be  supported  by  metal  set  into  chimney  and  nailed  to  the  wooden 
beams  or  flat  metal  nailed  to  the  woodwork  with  the  inner  edge  close  to  the 
chimney. 

Under  no  circumstances  should  wood  studding  or  furring  be  placed  against 
any  chimney.  The  wood  construction  should  either  be  set  back  from  the  chim^ 
ney  or  the  plastering  applied  to  self  furring  metal  lath  or  directly  on  the  ma- 
sonry itself.  Use  of  wire  loops  embedded  at  proper  intervals  in  chimney  wall  is 
advocated  for  fastening  lath  and  furring  in  place  of  nailing." 

The  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  says: 

'The  practice  of  inserting  wooden  joists  in  the  wall  of  a  chimney,  or  of 
placing  studding,  furring  or  other  woodwork  in  contact  with  the  wall  is  very 
risky,  and  should  not  be  permitted  under  any  circumstanaes." 

Smokepipes  are  almost  as  important  in  point  of  installation  and 
maintenance  as  chimneys  because  of  the  danger  of  fires  from  defective 
smokepipes.  They  should  always  enter  the  chimney  horizontally  and 
the  connection  through  the  chimney  wall  to  the  flue  made  with  round 
tile  or  metal  thimbles  set  in  portland  cement  mortar.  In  monolithic 
concrete  chimneys  the  connection  should  be  cast  with  the  chimney. 
Close  flue  holes  when  not  in  use  with  tight  fitting  covers. 

No  smokepipe  should  be  within  9  inches  of  any  woodwork,  and 
where  wood  or  coal  are  used  as  fuel  it  is  better  to  provide  a  greater  dis- 
tance. Smokepipes  should  not  be  permitted  to  pass  through  floors,  nor 
through  closets  or  other  concealed  spaces,  nor  through  a  roof  having 
wooden  framework  or  covering,  nor  should  such  a  pipe  enter  a  chimney 
in  the  attic  or  garret.  Every  smokepipe  should  be  cleaned  at  least  once 
a  year.  ; 

The  construction  of  fireplaces  is  important,  particularly  the  thick- 
ness (never  less  than  8  inches)  and  lining  should  be  of  fire  brick.  Trim- 
mer arches  supporting  the  hearth  should  be  of  reinforced  concrete  not 
less  than  4  inches  thick. 

HEATING  AND  LIGHTING  EQUIPMENT 

Many  of  the  fires  in  dwellings  start  through  improper  protection 
of  the  heating  and  lighting  equipment.  The  recommendations  of  the 
National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  covering  heating  and  lighting 
equipment  in  the  code  of  suggestions  already  referred  to,  should  be  fol- 
lowed as  they  may  apply  to  the  construction  of  houses  of  the  various 
types  that  have  been  described. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  107 

The  Committee  recommends  that  in  dwellings  of  a  character  to  war- 
rant the  additional  expense,  all  heating,  ventilating  or  other  service 
equipment  should  be  separated  from  other  portions  of  the  building 
by  a  5-inch  concrete  wall ;  the  ceiling  also  should  be  of  portland  cement 
plaster  on  a  metal  lath  base. 

FIRE  STOPS 

No  one  feature  of  house  construction  will  contribute  more  to  its 
safety  in  case  of  fire  than  efficient  well  placed  fire  stops.  Their  purpose 
is  to  delay  the  spread  of  fire  and  so  assist  in  confining  it  to  the  story  in 
which  it  starts.  This  protects  life  and  affords  a  better  chance  of  extin- 
guishing the  fire. 

Fire  stops  are  applicable  principally  to  non-fireproof  buildings, 
though  they  can  be  used  advantageously  in  any  type  of  building  where 
openings  exist  that  would  act  as  flues  to  distribute  heated  air  or  gases 
from  a  fire  in  one  part  of  the  building. 

Incombustible  material  is  best  suited  for  the  construction  of  fire 
stops.  Its  use  not  only  lessens  the  chances  of  defective  workmanship, 
but  as  such  fire  stops  are  unburnable  the  possibility  of  a  fire  getting  by 
them  is  considerably  decreased. 

Fire  stops  should  be  so  located  as  to  perform  the  function  described 
in  the  dwelling  recommendations  of  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Under- 
writers, but  instead  of  being  held  in  place  by  wooden  strips  or  boards 
and  put  in  as  an  unimportant  adjunct  to  the  carpenter  contract,  we 
recommend  that  aU  fire  stopping  be  put  in  a  separate  contract  by  pro- 
viding that  the  fire  stops  be  formed  by  a  basket  of  metal  lath  filled  with 
concrete. 

Dwellings  within  10  feet  of  non-fireproof  buildings  should  have  the 
walls  behind  eaves  or  cornices  fully  fire-stopped  to  prevent  fire  from 
a  nearby  building  breaking  through  into  the  attic  space.  This  also 
protects  against  fire  which  might  lap  up  under  the  eaves  through  the 
windows. 

Incombustible  cornices  should  be  used.  If  impossible,  metal  lath 
and  Portland  cement  plaster  or  stucco  should  be  used  on  underside  of 
cornices. 

Space  between  stair  carriages  should  be  stopped  by  a  header  beam 
at  top  and  bottom.  Where  a  stair  run  is  not  all  in  one  room,  or  where 
a  closet  is  located  under  the  stairs,  the  stair  carriage  should  have  an 
intermediate  fire  stop,  and  the  under  side  should  be  covered  with  port- 
land  cement  plaster  on  metal  lath. 

Ducts,  chases,  or  shafts  for  pipes,  wires,  speaking  tubes,  and  similar 
details,  should  be  firestopped  at  each  floor  with  mortar  to  form  tight 
joints.  All  exposed  pipes  passing  through  any  floor  or  wall  should  have 
the  surrounding  air  space  closed  off  at  the  ceiling  and  floor  lines. 

1 1]      Committee  on  Fire  Prevention       .'';;«•         ] 

Walter  A.  Hull,  Chairman,  Washington,  D.  C. 
J.  E.  Freeman,  Secretary,  Chicago 
E.   G.   Barnett,   Cleveland 
Wharton  Clay,  Chicago 
C.  W.  Hejda,  Chicago 
W.  C.  Robinson,  Chicago 
'     John  L.  Wilds,  Chicago 


108  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


THE  CONCRETE  HOUSE  AND  ITS  STATUS 
AS  REGARDS  BUILDING  CODES 

By  Fred  W.  Lumis,  Building  Commissioner,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Almost  without  exception,  every  man  is  interested  in  the  subject  of 
house  building.  But  this  unmistakable  interest  is  only  the  beginning. 
The  house  must  be  designed  and  built,  and  our  interest  must  evolve  into 
action.  At  the  very  start,  we  decide  what  kind  of  a  house  we  are  going 
to  build,  and  choose  our  building  material.  On  this  choice,  as  well  as 
on  the  quality  of  workmanship,  much  will  depend. 

By  studying  the  art  of  house  building,  we  discover  that  the  most 
successful  houses  do  not  depend  upon  ornament  nor  any  particular  kind 
of  material  for  their  success,  but  rather  upon  good  lines,  simplicity,  and 
reasonableness. 

Any  building  worthy  to  be  called  a  house  should  be  built  of  endur- 
ing material,  and  with  proper  care  should  serve  three  or  more  genera- 
tions. Whether  the  material  is  wood  or  concrete,  the  thought  of  dura- 
bility should  always  be  engrossing  if  not  paramount. 

Much  time  and  thought  have  been  given  to  the  study  and  examina- 
tion of  building  materials.  All  have  their  virtues,  their  limitations  and 
defects.    But  we  are  now  considering  the  house  of  concrete. 

Before  a  house  or  other  building  can  be  erected  in  any  of  our  cities, 
an  application  for  a  permit  to  build  must  be  made,  a  plan  must  be  filed, 
also  a  written  statement  describing  the  character,  materials,  use,  and 
location  of  such  building — all  showing  the  purpose  of  the  builder  to 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  state  and  local  building  laws. 

Let  us  examine  briefly  the  building  laws  or  codes  of  some  of  our 
larger  cities,  so  as  to  learn,  if  possible,  their  various  regulations  and 
restrictions  as  they  apply  to  and  affect  the  concrete  house. 

I  have  tried  to  condense  a  dozen  typical  existing  codes,  retaining 
only  the  salient  features,  reducing  them  to  their  simplest  terms,  and 
recording  their  actual  mandatory  requirements. 

Only  high  grade  Portland  cements  are  considered  in  any  of  the 
building  codes  referred  to. 

An  accompanying  table  will  help  to  visualize  the  differences  in 
requirements  of  the  cities  chosen  for  comparison. 

In  designing  the  concrete  house,  safety  and  economy  must  be 
reconciled. 

If  to  embed  the  steel  reinforcement  IJ  or  2  inches  is  sufficient  to 
protect  it  from  fire  in  a  storehouse,  or  other  commercial  building,  where 
large  quantities  of  inflammable  materials  are  housed,  then  ^  inch  of 
fire  protection  should  be  enough  when  the  steel  is  embedded  in  the 
concrete  walls  and  floors  of  a  small  house  where  none  of  the  rooms  would 
contain  more  than  a  few  armfuls  of  combustible  furnishings. 

Where  crushed  slag  is  procurable,  it  might  well  be  substituted  for 
crushed  stone  in  concrete  for  use  in  dwelling  houses. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  109 

Cinders  are  variable  in  their  structural  and  chemical  properties, 
but  their  use  in  construction  work  in  small  buildings  might  be  permis- 
sible in  localities  where  other  material  is  difficult  to  procure,  or  where 
they  can  be  obtained  in  a  relatively  uniform  and  clean  condition.  They 
should  be  crushed  and  screened  and  free  from  ashes. 

Building  codes  should  require  every  maker  of  concrete  block  to 
have  a  suitable  building  or  enclosure  for  protection  from  cold,  heat, 
winds  and  Aveather,  where  he  shall  properly  make  and  cure  his  block. 
Licenses  should  be  issued  to  all  blockmakers,  such  licenses  to  be  revocable 
for  causes  set  forth  in  the  code. 

In  considering  the  codes  which  I  have  mentioned,  it  will  be  observed 
that  the  requirements  are  general  and  not  specific.  Alike  to  the  ware- 
house a  thousand  feet  long,  and  to  the  cottage — with  partitions  serving 
as  diaphragms,  extending  in  all  directions,  tying  and  bracing  the  whole 
structure  every  few  feet. 

The  vertical  supports  and  walls  in  large  structures  are  designed 
principally  with  respect  to  their  compressive  strength,  but  the  designer 
of  a  concrete  house  is  not  peiTaitted  to  utilize  any  such  economies. 

As  an  illustration,  a  good  reinforced  concrete  house,  having  hori- 
zontal dimensions  of  30  by  40  feet  and  an  average  height  above  the 
basement  of  20  feet,  would  weigh,  including  outside  walls,  floors,  parti- 
tions and  roof,  approximately  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150)  tons,  and  if 
all  the  floors  were  loaded  to  their  full  carrying  capacity  of  40  pounds 
per  square  foot,  it  would  add  about  50  tons  more.  The  weight  of  the 
whole  building  above  the  basement,  together  with  its  live  load,  could  be 
safely  supported  upon  one  well  designed  concrete  column,  23  inches  in 
diameter.  In  the  vertical  supporting  members  in  a  typical  concrete 
house,  there  is  material  sufficient  to  make  twenty-five  such  columns. 

Now  this  is  extravagant  designing — an  unnecessary  waste  of  val- 
uable material.  The  designers  are  not  encouraged  to  apply  their 
inventive  genius  or  even  the  best  of  their  training  and  experience,  but 
in  many  cases  are  restrained  and  handicapped  by  the  requirements  of 
existing  building  codes — codes  that  are  influenced  by  other  codes,  which 
in  turn  are  influenced  by  older  and  different  methods  of  building.  There 
is  no  logical  reason  why  concrete  construction  should  be  measured  in 
multiples  of  4,  8,  or  12  inches — just  because  brick  and  stone  are  flgured 
that  way. 

Portland  cement  concrete  is  a  comparatively  new  material,  and  new 
uses  for  it  are  being  discovered  every  day.  Until  yery  recently,  the 
concrete  house  was  designed  on  the  same  lines  and  with  the  same  details 
as  a  brick  or  stone  house.  And  it  was  but  natural  that  existing  or  incon- 
gruous building  regulations  should  be  applied  to  it. 

But  we  are  progressing.  The  engineers  have  led  the  way,  showing 
us  how  to  build  with  concrete  scientifically  and  safely.  The  factor  of 
safety  can  be  very  greatly  reduced  when  ignorance,  dishonesty,  and 
carelessness  are  noticeably  reduced,  and  better  controlled. 

The  men  who  are  really  responsible  for  our  building  codes  have 
worked  to  get  away  from  archaic  methods,  have  had  to  oppose  ignorance, 
perversity,  and  entrenched  interests.     They  have  had  to  arouse  and 


110 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


BUILDING  CODE  REQUIREMENTS 


Steel  Stresses 
per  sq.  inch 

Concrete  Stresses  per  Sq.  Inch 

Concrete 
Mixture 

Thickness  of 
Walls 

Extreme 
Fiber 

Compression 

City 

High 
Car- 
bon 

Mild 

Miscellaneous 

Mass 
Concrete 

Columns 

Boston 

16000 

500 

350 

600 

vertical  and 
hooped  rein. 

1:2:4 

Basement — 12" 
1st  and  2d 
stories^-6" 

May  use  cinders 
in  floor  slabs, 
roof  or  filling 

Bridge- 
port 

16000 

14000 

600 

450 

Must  With- 
stand 2000# 
at  28  days 

Not     less     than 
12"   or  same    as 
brick 

Slag  or  clean  fur- 
nace clinkers 
permitted 

Buffalo 

16000 

16000 

500 

350 

1:2:5 

Same  as  brick 

Chicago 

18000 

35%    of 
ultimate 
crushing 
strength 

20%    of 
ultimate 
crushing 
strength 

1:1:2—2900* 
1:1^:3-2400 
1:2:4—2000 
l:2i:5— 1750 
1:3:7—1500 

Same  as  brick 

Cinders  permitted 
except  in  bear- 
ing walls,  col-  . 
umns  or  piers 

Cincin- 

16000 

16000 

600 

500 

1:2|:5 

Reinforced— not 
less  than  4" 
Reinforced  base- 
ment walls— 12" 

Cinder  concrete  in 

nati 

700 

600 

1:2:4 

floor  arches  or 
slabs  only 

800 

700 

1:1^:3 

1st  and  2d  stories 

—8" 

Detroit 

18000 

16000 

650 

450 

Walls,   beams 
and    floor    — 
l:2:4ColumnB 
1:U:3 

Reinforced — 66% 
of  that  required 
for  brick.  Plain- 
Same  as  brick 

Slag  permitted  in 
walls  and  slabs. 
Boiler  cinders 
prohibited 

Hart- 
ford 

80000 
(ulti- 
mate) 

60000 
(ulti- 
mate) 

800 

500 

850 
hooped  rein. 

1:2:4 

For    houses: 
Basement  —  12" 
1st  and  2d  stories 

—8" 

1:2:4  cinder  con- 
crete allowed  at 
50%  of  values 
given. 

Los 
Angeles 

16000 

16000 

650 

800 
hooped     rein. 

1:2^:3K2      , 
crushed    rock 

Reinforced  — 
not  lees  than  8" 
Plain   and   block 
— same  as  brick 

520 

350 

1:3:4K  screen- 
ed gravel 

250 
no  rein. 

1 :7    bank    or 
river      gravel 

Louis- 
viUe 

16000 

16000 

650 

650 

450— vertical 
rein,  only 
540— hoops 
only 

650—1  to  4% 
vert.  rein,  and 
hoops 

1:2:4 

12" 
1st  story  of  one- 
story   bldgs.— 9" 
Hollow     block— 
10%     less     than 
brick    or    mono- 
lithic 

Cinder  concrete 
prohibited  for 
construe  tion 
work  or  fire- 
proofing 

Minne- 
apolis 

16000 

16000 

650 

500t 
208t 

1:2:4— must 
stand  2000  # 

Basement  —  12" 
1st  and  2nd  stor- 
ies—10" 

Cinder  concrete 
not  considered 

New 
York 

20000 

16000 

650 

500 
(plus 
900  on 
vert, 
rein.) 

Reinforced — 
1:2:4— must 
stand  2000  # 
at  28  days. 
Plain- 
1:2^:5 

Basement  (rein.) 

—12". 

20'  walls— 8" 

1st  10'  of  30' 

walls— 10" 

Cinders  permitted 
in  floor  slabs, 
reinforced  par- 
titions 4"  thick 
and  plain  parti- 
tions 5"  thick 

Phila- 
delphia 

16000 

16000 

650 
300    for 
cinder 
concrete 

500 
Plain 
walls  or 
large 
piers  — 
250 

1:2:4—  must 
stand  2000  tf 
at  28  days 

Reinforced— 66% 
of  that  required 
for  brick 
Block  walls 
(1:2:3  mixture)  — 
same  as  brick 

Cinder  concrete 
permitted  in 
slabs  and  minor 
partitions-  mix- 
ture 1:2:5;  to 
stand 800 Sat  28 
days. 

Port- 
land, 
Oregon 

16000 

16000 

650 

400 

Same  as  brick 

Cinder  concrete 
not     mentioned 

Roches- 
ter 

20000 

16000 

650 

650 

450  with  ver- 
tical rein, 
only 

1:2:4  must 
stand  2000  # 
at  28  days 

Bloc  k —  b  a  s  e- 
ment      12"— 1st, 
2d  and  3d 

stories— 8" 

Cinder  concrete 
permitted  for 
floor  slabs  and 
fireproofing 

St. 
Louis 

20000 

14000 

800 

500 

Reinforced  — 
1:2:4        must 
stand  20C0  # 
at  28  days 
Plain— 1:3-5 

Same  as  brick 

Hard  burned  clay 
aggregate- 
stresses  50%  of 
those  for  stone 
concrpte 

*Crushing  values  of  respective  mixtures. 
jFor  1:2:4  concrete.    JFor  1:3:5  concrete. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  111 

Cities  differ  in  detail  of  inspection  and  other  parts  of  codes. 

Hartford  requires  that  a  plant  making  block  material  must  be  in 
full  operation  when  official  tests  are  made  and  that  the  names  of  the 
owners  of  said  plant  must  be  placed  on  file  with  the  Building  Depart- 
ment. Block  (1:3:4  mixture)  must  stand  1000#  per  sq.  in.  at  28 
days.  Allowable  working  load  is  90#  per  sq.  in.  They  require  a  li- 
cense to  make  blocks  and  the  license  may  be  revoked  for  causes.  The 
same  license  regulations  hold  at  Portland,  Ore.,  but  block  must  be  1 :3 
(sand)  or  1:3:5  (crushed  rock  pnd  gravel)  and  must  stand  2000# 
at  30  days.  _  . 

Los  Angeles  requires  the  inspector  to  stop  all  work  not  within  the 
requirements  of  the  ordinances  or  be  subjected  to  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Minneapolis  demands  that  designers  of  concrete  buildings  compute 
the  dead  and  live  loads  and  indicate  same  on  drawing. 

Philadelphia  approves  of  reinforced  concrete  for  all  types  of  build- 
ings whereby  the  design  conforms  to  the  requirements  of  good  engineer- 
ing practice. 

For  reinforced  concrete  New  York  demands  that  aggregate  be 
screened  crush  stone  or  gravel,  but  aggregate  for  mass  or  plain  concrete 
may  be  granite,  trap  rock  or  gravel. 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  demands  that  the  Building  Superintendent  keep  a 
detailed  record  of  every  operation  including  the  date  of  removal  of 
forms  and  file*  record  with  Building  Department. 

St.  Louis  makes  no  provision  for  block. 


mould  public  opinion,  and  receive  its  sanction  before  they  could  establish 
and  maintain  necessary  reforms  or  enact  building  codes. 

With  a  slight  improvement  in  the  intelligence  and  reliability  of  the 
average  man,  and  a  better  and  more  universal  understanding  of  the 
proper  treatment  and  behavior  of  concrete  in  all  places  and  under  all 
conditions,  great  economies  both  in  material  and  manipulation  can  be 
effected,  and  satisfactory  results  obtained. 

Our  building  codes  are  primarily  written  and  enforced  for  the  dual 
purpose  of  protecting  human  life  and  the  prevention  of  fire.  They  must 
occasionally  be  revised,  so  as  to  comprehend  new  materials  and  new 
methods. 

The  concrete  house  of  various  types  will  gradually  and  shortly  come 
to  be  considered  on  its  own  intrinsic  merits,  and  building  codes  will 
contain  provisions  that  will  be  specially  applicable  to  such  houses. 

The  concrete  house,  with  its  unlimited  opportunities  for  style,  finish 
and  decoration  has  a  value  and  a  charm  all  its  own.  The  designer 
should  bear  in  mind  that  he  is  expressing  himself  in  terms  of  concrete, 
and  also  that  it  is  a  medium  worthy  of  his  best  thought  and  his  noblest 
effort. 


112 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


A  reinforced  concrete  residence  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.     Schub  system  molds  were  used. 


Substantial,  well-designed,  concrete  residence  of  W.  G.  Higgins,  Brookline,  Mass. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  113 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  MONOLITHIC 
CONCRETE  HOUSES 

Nearly  fifty  years  ago  the  first  monolithic  concrete  house  was  con- 
structed in  the  United  States.  This  house  is  in  use  today  and  gives 
every  evidence  that  the  end  of  the  next  fifty  years  will  find  it  in  the 
same  condition  as  today.  Whatever  its  cost  may  have  been  is  insignifi- 
cant when  spread  over  the  half  century  of  useful  service  it  has  already 
rendered  and  will  doubtless  continue  to  render  for  yeaiN  to  come.  No 
doubt,  this  house  cost  more  to  build  than  a  frame  house  would  have 
cost,  but  ultimate  economy  which  includes  the  cost  of  maintenance,  re- 
pairs and  depreciation,  tells  a  story  quite  different  from  first  cost.  The 
lowest  priced  article  is  often  not  the  cheapest  in  the  end. 

A  house  must  be  habitable  and  therefore  comfortable.  It  must 
pi'otect  its  occupants  against  heat  and  cold.  It  must  be  sanitary.  Its 
appearance,  while  secondary  from  a  purely  utilitarian  standpoint,  must 
not  violate  the  principles  of  architecture  and  harmony  with  surround- 
ings and  proportion.  But  ''A  thing  of  beauty  is  a  joy  forever"  is  true 
only  if  the  thing  lasts  indefinitely.  This  means  that  the  structure 
should  be  permanent. 

Utility  is  obtained  by  proper  planning  for  the  use  of  enclosed  space; 
The  concrete  house  allows  this  without  interfering  with  architectural 
treatment.  By  employing  a  ''dead"  air  space  in  the  walls  insulation 
against  heat  and  cold  is  obtained.  Concrete  is  strong  and  pemianent. 
It  does  not  rust,  rot  or  decay.  The  question  then  remains  as  to  how  it 
may  be  utilized  in  a  practical  way  in  the  construction  of  homes. 

The  fundamental  problems  to  be  solved  in  practical  monolithic  con- 
crete house  construction  are  forms  and  design,  and  field  practice. 

Forms  and  Design. 

A  monolithic  house  of  any  architectural  design,  foi-m  or  size  can 
be  built,  but  in  order  that  the  cost  of  construction  be  held  within  reason- 
able limits  the  forms  must  be  susceptible  of  repeated  use.  This  requires 
either  that  the  same  set  of  forms  allow  wide  variation  as  to  length, 
height  and  relation  of  surfaces  or  that  the  design  ^tself  be  limited  to 
the  flexibility  allowed  by  the  particular  system  of  forms  employed. 
There  is  no  system  of  concrete  house  molds  available  that  does  not  re- 
quire a  certain  degree  of  standardization  in  design  to  make  their  use 
economical.  Gables,  bay-windows,  cui*ved  surfaces  or  other  than  right 
angled  corners  add  to  the  cost  of  form  work. 

For  a  large  group  of  houses,  which  is  essentially  the  industrial 
housing  problem  today,  much  emphasis  has  been  placed  on  appearance. 
Rows  of  houses  of  identical  design  are  often  condemned,  and  rightly 
so,  if  each  individual  house  is  ugly,  whether  built  of  wood,  brick  or 
concrete.  There  is  little  choice,  however,  between  a  gi'oup  of  houses  all 
different  but  each  of  which  is  ugly  and  a  group  of  ugly  houses  all  alike 
excepting  that  the  ensemble  of  all  different  ugly  houses  is  more  offensive 
than  the  group  of  all  alike  ugly  houses.  It  does  not  appear  that  a 
group  of  houses  each  of  which  is  pleasing  will  present  an  unpleasing 


114 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


A  progress  report  of  concrete  house  construction,  1880-1920.  Above,  a  recent  photograph  of  a 
group  of  concrete  houses  in  Allentown,  Pa.,  built  in  1880  and  still  in  service.  Below, 
modern,  monolithic  concrete  cottages  built  with  Lambie  forms  at  Manhattan  Beach,  L.  I. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  115 

ensemble  even  though  they  all  have  the  same  general  dimensions.  Thus 
the  problem  is  at  once  solved  by  producing  a  correct  architectural  de- 
sign as  to  general  style  and  proportion  which  can  readily  be  altered  in 
minor  details  such  as,  the  entrance,  porch  and  roof,  without  at  all 
affecting  the  pleasing  architectural  proportion.  This  is  the  work  of 
the  architect  and  offers  a  challenge  to  his  talent  and  genius. 

Design  for  a  large  project  must  above  all  other  things  be  practical 
and  must  therefore  meet  all  the  real  needs  of  the  occupants.  Large 
groups  of  industrial  houses  will,  in  large  measure,  be  occupied  by  a 
fairly  uniform  class  of  families.  Different  grades  of  workmen  or  differ- 
ent nationalities  usually  require  separate  groups  with  corresponding 
differences  in  size  or  design  of  house.  Within  each  of  these  sub-groups 
there  is  little  reason  for  much  variation  in  the  main  dimensions  or  floor 
plans  of  the  houses,  and  the  objection  of  sameness  is  at  once  removed 
by  a  skillful  arrangement  of  houses  with  variations  in  roof  and  porches, 
surface  treatment,  location  of  entrances  and  the  facing  directions  of 
their  fronts.  This  has  been  amply  demonstrated  in  a  number  of  recent 
industrial  housing  developments,  and  the  fact  that  the  monolithic  house 
has  practical  limitations  as  to  variety  because  of  the  use  of  forms 
should  not  hinder  the  adoption  of  this  type.  Too  often  the  monolithic 
house  is  discarded  as  soon  as  the  half  truth  is  suggested  that  they  must 
all  be  alike,  when  as  a  matter  of  fact,  a  little  skill  will  completely  dispel 
all  appearance  of  monotony  and  if  the  general  design  is  good,  the  group 
will  be  attractive. 

The  molds  that  have  been  developed  and  used  may  be  classified  as  to 
material — wood  and  steel.  Among  the  most  widely  known  modern  con- 
crete house  molds  are  those  invented  by  C.  H.  Ingersoll  and  used  to 
build  the  concrete  houses  at  Phillipsburg  and  Union,  N.  J.  These 
molds  do  not  permit  of  much  variation  in  design  and  a  complete  separate 
set  is  required  for  each  type  of  house.  The  molds  produce  a  solid 
wall,  which  is  furred,  lathed  and  plastered  to  furnish  the  insulation  re- 
quired. 

Another  system  of  wooden  forms  utilizing  grooved  2  by  4's  which 
support  and  hold  in  place  sectional  wooden  forms  is  known  as  the  Felli- 
gren  System. 

The  best  known  systems  of  steel  molds  are  the  Hydraulic  Steel- 
craft,  Morrill,  Lambie,  Metaform,  Blaw-Knox,  Schub  and  the  Van 
Guilder.  The  Steelcraft,  Morrill,  Metaform,  Blaw-Knox  and  Schub 
molds  are  made  up  of  relatively  small  plates  from  2  to  3  feet  square. 
The  Lambie  forms  are  composed  of  steel  channels  set  vertically,  clipped 
together  at  the  flanges  and  lined  with  horizontal  liners  composed  of  steel 
angles.  The  Van  Guilder  molds  represent  a  different  type  consisting 
of  a  combination  of  plates  about  9  to  18  inches  high,  held  together  by 
yokes  and  released  from  the  wall  by  levers.  When  the  chambers  of  the 
machine  are  tamped  full  of  concrete  the  plates  are  released  and  the  ma- 
chine moved  ahead,  traveling  around  the  wall  and  forming  a  course 
from  9  to  18  inches  high.  This  method  produces  a  double  wall  and 
obviates  the  need  of  furring  and  does  not  impose  restrictions  on  design. 

Field  Practice 

The  total  amount  of  concrete  required  for  a  concrete  house  is  rela- 
tively small  and  does  not  justify  heavy  and  elaborate  equipment.     A 


116 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Residence  of  reinforced  concrete,  Port  Chester,  New  York,  built  by  W.  E.  Ward  in  1872,  and 
still  in  excellent  condition. 


Concrete  residence  of  Wilson  D.  Lyon,  Glenridge,  N.  J.,  built  with  Van  Guilder  forms. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  117 

small  one-bag  batch  mixer  will  mix  the  concrete  in  sufficient  quantity 
and  sufficiently  rapidly  and  where  construction  is  on  a  large  scale  with 
many  houses  going  up  at  once,  several  small  mixers  are  needed  rather 
than  one  or  a  few  large  ones.  For  the  construction  of  two-story  houses, 
some  separate  means  of  elevating  the  concrete  is  necessary  unless  ele- 
vating machinery  is  a  part  of  the  mixer  outfit  such  as  the  Humphrey 
conveyor  equipment.  George  E.  Lewis  of  the  Marion  Double  Wall  Co., 
Marion,  Ohio,  has  solved  the  elevating  problem  as  required  by  the  Van 
Guilder  wall  machines  by  using  a  small  portable  lift  which  carries  a  flat 
platfonn  wheelbarrow  loaded  with  pails  filled  with  concrete.  This  lift 
consists  of  two  guides  built  up  in  interchangeable  sections  bolted  to- 
gether and  held  in  position  by  staying  to  the  floors.  Where  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  put  the  lift  inside  of  the  building,  it  has  been  used  outside  by  using 
a  few  extra  stays.  Collapsible  scaffold  horses  carry  plank  runways  on 
which  the  barrows  are  wheeled  to  place. 

The  mixer  should  have  a  hoisting  drum  attached  to  operate  the 
lift  and  should  be  sufficiently  open  to  be  easily  cleaned.  The  hoisting 
attachment  is  usually  added  to  standard  mixers  as  a  special  appliance. 

Construction  of  the  one  hundred  concrete  houses  at  Donora,  Pa., 
was  started  with  a  high  tower,  but  the  tower  was  dispensed  with  later 
and  small  mixers  and  hoists  substituted  with  better  results.  A  small 
mixer  was  placed  alongside  each  house  during  concreting.  The  concrete 
was  handled  in  buggies,  lifted  by  circle  swing  derricks. 

In  building  concrete  houses  at  Long  Island  City,  N.  Y.,  a  50-foot 
mast  and  mast  hoist  bucket  plant  was  used.  Concrete  for  ten  houses  was 
placed  at  one  setting  of  the  mast  which  required  but  a  few  hours  to 
move. 

The  plant  handled  about  seventy  yards  per  day  with  a  crew  which 
consisted  of  one  foreman,  three  men  wheeling  aggregates,  one  man  han- 
dling cement  and  water,  one  hoisting  engineer  and  three  men  tamping 
and  handling  chutes. 

In  building  the  Van  Guilder  houses  at  Youngstown,  Ohio,  a  J-yard 
mixer  was  used  and  the  material  conveyed  in  buckets  on  platform  wheel- 
barrows operated  on  runways  up  to  the  second  floor  level.  The  buck- 
ets were  passed  up  by  hand  for  second  story  walls.  The  crew  con- 
sisted of  8  men  up  to  the  second  floor,  and  9  men  for  the  second  story. 

Surface  Finish 

There  are  two  general  ways  of  obtaining  surface  finish, — (a)  appli- 
cation of  coloring  to  the  concrete  surface  after  the  forms  are  removed, 
and  (b)  treatment  of  the  surface  itself  either  before  or  after  the  fonns 
are  removed.  Color  may  be  applied  directly  to  the  concrete  surface 
either  as  stucco  or  paint.  Stucco  may  be  made  in  many  shades  and  a 
considerable  range  of  color  is  also  oft'ered  by  special  paints  suitable  to 
concrete  surfaces.  A  machine  for  applying  stucco  has  lately  gained 
considerable  attention.  Stucco,  applied  directly  to  the  concrete  surface 
without  the  use  of  lath  or  fabric  of  any  sort  will  be  permanent  if  the 
work  is  properly  done,  and  freshening  of  the  surface  to  restore  the  color 
may  be  done  by  the  simple  proces  of  washing  with  a  hose  and  scrubbing. 

Surface  finish  obtained  by  depositing  colored  aggregate  or  color- 


118  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

ing  material  in  the  forms  next  to  the  surface  or  by  mechanical  means, 
such  as  tooling,  sand  blasting,  etc.,  or  a  combination  of  these  will  usually 
cost  less  than  stuccoing  and  will  produce  a  permanent  finish.  The  vari- 
ety of  color  effect  is,  however,  much  more  limited  than  is  obtainable  with 
stucco. 

Interior  Construction  and  Inside  Finish 

The  truth  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  that  the  monolithic  concrete 
house  in  which  concrete  has  been  consistently  used  in  walls,  floors,  par- 
titions and  roof  does  represent  the  highest  type  of  firesafe,  permanent, 
maintenance-free  house. 

It  is  universally  admitted  that  concrete  floors  are  fireproof  and 
sanitary.  There  is,  however,  a  marked  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
desirability  of  a  concrete  floor  surface  from  the  standpoint  of  comfort 
and  coziness. 

"Wooden  floor  surfaces  are  applied  either  by  embedding  nailing 
strips  in  the  concrete  or  by  covering  the  structural  concrete  floor  with 
a  mixture  of  cement  mortar  and  sawdust  or  cinders  to  which  the  wooden 
floor  covering  may  be  nailed.  The  best  solution  of  the  concrete  floor 
problem  is  the  use  of  easily  removable  floor  coverings  of  carpets,  rugs, 
linoleum  or  patented  floor  coverings.  Inserts  for  buttoning  down  floor 
covering  may  be  embedded  in  the  concrete.  The  covering  is  easily  re- 
moved and  the  floors  may  be  flushed  and  scrubbed. 

Solid  monolithic  concrete  walls  are  no  exception  to  other  masonry 
walls  in  regard  to  the  requirement  for  insulation  to  prevent  condensa- 
tion of  moisture  on  their  interior  surface.  Furring,  lath  and  plaster 
should  be  used  to  produce  an  air  space  between  the  concrete  wall  and 
the  surface  of  the  interior  finish.  For  this  purpose  wooden  nailing 
strips  or  plugs  to  which  the  furring  may  be  attached  should  be  embedded 
in  the  concrete  wall,  or  wires  or  "hairpins"  allowed  to  protrude  from 
the  concrete  for  the  attachment  of  ribbed  metal  fabric  or  wire  mesh. 
Whatever  detail  is  adopted  the  fundamental  requirement  of  insulation 
must  be  provided — a  ''dead"  air  space  must  be  obtained  or. some  insu- 
lating material  used  between  the  concrete  and  the  inside  finish. 

Partitions  in  an  otherwise  fireproof  house  should  also  be  fireproof. 
In  monolithic  houses  of  the  bearing  wall  type  with  concrete  floors  it  is 
usually  economical  to  make  some  of  the  partitions  heavy  enough  to  carry 
the  floor  loads,  thus  cutting  down  the  floor  spans  and  obviating  the  use 
of  deep  beams.  These  partitions  are  then  similar  in  construction  to  the 
exterior  walls.  Furring  is  omitted  and  the  finish  applied  directly  to 
the  concrete  surface.  Partitions  that  do  not  carry  floor  loads  may  be 
constructed  by  plastering  and  back-plastering  on  ribbed  expanded  metal 
or  mesh.  Openings  in  such  partitions  may  be  secured  by  using  pressed 
steel  or  concrete  studs  each  side  of  opening.  Plastered  partitions  may 
be  made  to  form  a  dead  air  space  by  constructing  two  walls  a  few  inches 
apart,  both  plastered  on  expanded  metal  or  mesh  reinforcement. 

In  order  to  carry  out  the  idea  of  firesafeness  completely  the  roof 
must  be  incombustible.  If  the  ceiling  of  the  top  floor  is  concrete  and 
the  roof  covering  is  tile,  slate  or  asbestos  shingles,  the  roof  framing  may 
be  of  wood  without  appreciable  increase  of  fire  hazard  from  without. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


119 


If  the  top  floor  has  a  concrete  ceiling  the  extra  expense  of  a  wood 
frame  roof  can  be  justified  only  because  of  architectural  effect  and 
some  additional  protection  from  heat  and  cold.  The  concrete  ceiling 
may  serve  at  the  same  time  as  a  roof.  Much  difference  of  opinion  exists 
in  regard  to  the  appearance  of  a  flat  roof.  It  is  certainly  true  that  many 
high  class  residences  have  flat  roofs.  Both  flat  and  pitched  roofed 
houses  were  constructed  in  the  Cranwood  Development,  and  the  flat 
roof  houses  were  the  first  choice  of  the  purchasers.  A  concrete  pitched 
roof  built  with  forms  is  more  difficult  to  construct  than  a  flat  one.  A 
concrete  pitched  roof  can,  however,  be  constructed  by  plastering  or 
shooting  with  a  cement  gun  on  expanded  metal  or  mesh  reinforcement. 


fellgren  System,  monolithic  concrete  residence  of  Adolph  Boericke,   Chicago. 

Conclusions 

1.  The  work  of  this  Committee  should  be  continued  and  new  mem- 
bers added  to  it. 

2.  Concrete,  being  different  from  other  materials  used  in  home 
building,  presents  new  problems  and  new  limitations  in  design.  These 
must  be  studied  in  order  to  produce  artistic  effects  economically. 

3.  When  houses  are  built  in  groups  having  the  same  overall  di- 
mensions, good  architectural  design  can  be  given  sufficient  variety  to 
remove  appearance  of  sameness  by  using  colors,  by  methods  of  surface 
finish  and  by  skillful  arrangement  of  roofs,  balustrades,  cornices,  porches, 
etc.  Irregularity  of  design,  bay  windows,  curved  surfaces,  cornices  or 
oblique  angles  are  not  necessary  to  good  appearance  of  a  large  group  of 
houses. 

4.  Thickness  of  walls  of  monolithic  houses  is  governed  by  con- 
siderations of  field  practice  rather  than  by  the  requirement  for  strength. 
Building  regulations  should  recognize  the  great  strength  of  concrete 
and  therefore  the  thickness  of  walls  should  be  governed  by  the  require- 
ments of  standard  engineering  practice.    The  thickness  in  the  basement 


120  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

need  not  exceed  8  inches  and  in  first  and  second  stories  6  inches.  Where 
Hollow  Wall  Construction  is  used  the  same  total  thickness  of  concrete 
is  sufficient. 

5.  Well  constructed  6-inch  concrete  walls  require  little  reinforce- 
ment for  structural  reasons  and  do  not  need  more  than  i  of  1  per  cent 
to  provide  for  temperature  stresses.  A  proper  mix  for  these  walls  is 
about  1 :2^  :4  with  maximum  size  aggregate  about  1  inch.  Broken  stone, 
pebbles  or  a  good  grade  of  slag  or  cinders  may  be  used  as  coarse  aggre- 
gate. 

6.  In  climates  subject  to  sudden  and  great  changes  of  temperature, 
a  dead  air  space  throughout  the  exterior  walls  must  be  included  within 
the  wall  proper  or  an  air  space  must  be  formed  by  furring  and  plaster 
or  some  insulating  medium  used  between  the  solid  wall  and  the  interior 
finish. 

7.  Complete  firesafeness  requires  concrete  floors  and  partitions 
and  an  incombustible  roof. 

8.  If  a  concrete  floor  is  finished  in  cement  it  should  preferably  be 
covered  by  rugs,  carpets,  linoleum  or  special  floor  coverings  that  are 
easily  removed. 

9.  A  thin  stucco  coat  has  been  found  a  satisfactory  method  of 
finishing  exterior  concrete  surfaces.  Finishes  have  also  been  obtained 
by  exposing  colored  aggregates  and  by  tooling,  sand  blasting  or  rub- 
bing.    Troweled  finishes  are  not  recommended. 

10.  Small,  one-bag  batch  mixers  and  simple  elevating  equipment 
of  the  mast  and  bucket  or  two  legged  tower  and  skip  type  are  best 
adapted  to  monolithic  house  construction. 

11.  Window  and  door  frames  can  be  set  in  the  forms  and  the  con- 
crete cast  around  them.  Wooden  frames  should  be  well  primed  as  a 
protection  from  moisture  in  the  concrete.  Frames  should  be  anchored 
to  the  concrete  by  means  of  long  spikes  or  bolts.  They  should  be 
braced  against  distortion  from  the  pressure  of  the  fresh  concrete. 

12.  Forms  should  be  light  enough  or  in  sufficiently  small  sections 
to  allow  handling  by  the  form  setters  without  producing  undue  fatigue. 
They  should  be  capable  of  positive  alignment  both  vertically  and  hori- 
zontally. 

13.  The  monolithic  house  offers  an  unlimited  field  for  development. 
Encouragement  should  be  given  to  the  development  of  all  systems  of 
forms  that  have  proven  practicable  for  the  construction  of  monolithic 
houses. 

14.  The  monolithic  house  offers  advantages  in  speed  of  construc- 
tion that  makes  it  especially  suitable  for  large  Housing  developments. 

Committee  on  Monolithic   Concrete  Houses 

Leslie  H,  Allen,  Chairman,   Springfield,  Mass. 

A.  C.  Irwin,  Secretary,  Chicago 

F.  M.  Coogan,  Easton,  Pa. 

George  E.  Lewis,  Marion,  Ohio 

H.  B.  Loxterman,  Pittsburgh 

Milton   Dana    Morrill,    New   York 

John  J.  Porter,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

R.  D.  Spradling,  Cleveland 

K.   H.   Talbot,   Milwaukee 

Harvey  Whipple,  Detroit 

Capt.  Alan  P.  Wilson,  Roanoke,  Va. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  121 

REMARKS. 

p.  R.  Smith:  On  the  work  of  the  Phillipsburg  Development  Cor- 
poration we  started  out  with  frame  houses  of  the  ready-cut  type.  Shortly 
afterward  we  started  the  monolithic  houses,  but  we  had  a  feeling  they 
were  not  going  to  be  successful.  The  first  houses  to  rent  were  the  frame 
ones,  but  within  a  month  after  the  first  concrete  houses  had  been  com- 
pleted, the  people  were  all  after  them  and  would  not  rent  the  frame 
ones.  There  is  a  steady  demand  for  the  concrete  house  and  we  are  going 
to  continue  to  build  them. 

Wood  forms  are  used  in  the  Ingersoll  System  of  construction.  The 
forms  are  set  up  on  the  footings  and  cellar  floors  and  the  concrete  is 
poured  from  the  roof,  making  a  real  monolithic  house.  With  a  crew  of 
from  10  to  14  men,  as  the  situation  demands,  we  can  pour  a  house  con- 
taining 12,500  cubic  feet  in  8  hours. 

Emile  G.  Perrot  :     How  much  reinforcing  do  they  use  in  the  walls? 
P.  R.  Smith:     About  1,900  pounds  for  80  yards  of  concrete,  and 
the  house  cost  about  22^  cents  per  cubic  foot. 

E.  H.  Rawle:  Were  these  houses  of  hollow  wall  construction? 
Also  how  were  the  outside  and  inside  walls  treated,  and  with  what 
success  ? 

P.  R.  Smith:  The  wall  is  solid,  as  are  the  floors,  partition  and 
roof.  The  inside  of  walls  was  furred  by  using  furring  strips  to  which 
plasterboard  was  applied,  followed  by  a  plaster  coat.  Exterior  walls 
were  stuccoed  with  the  exception  of  one  instance,  where  we  floated  down 
the  finish,  thinking  that  we  might  be  able  to  do  it  more  cheaply,  but 
we  found  this  was  not  the  case. 

Albert  E.  Kleinert:  As  Superintendent  of  Buildings  of  the 
Borough  of  Brooklyn,  I  am  much  interested  in  knowing  whether  it  is 
possible  to  produce  a  cheaper  building  than  we  have  so  far  been  able 
to  obtain.  It  is  a  question  of  economical  construction,  and  the  Ingersoll 
house  seems  to  me  to  solve  the  problem.  It  is  of  reinforced  cinder  con- 
crete. I  understand  that  is  a  very  good  construction,  and  I  have  had  my 
engineers  go  over  the  method  of  reinforcing,  and  found  that  with  the 
exception  of  a  little  more  being  required,  the  construction  was  absolutely 
fea.sible,  sound,  and  might  be  obtained  at  least  20  per  cent  lower  than 
ordinary  frame  construction.  Furthermore,  taking  into  consideration 
the  scarcity  of  materials  and  skilled  labor,  I  think  it  is  a  good  product 
and  will  open  the  door  for  developing  small  houses  for  small  families. 

There  is  no  reason  that  I  can  see  why  we  should  pay  $30  a  thousand 
for  brick  and  more,  if  the  haul  is  a  little  longer  than  ordinary.  I  remem- 
ber the  time  when  I  paid  $6  a  thousand  for  good  brick,  delivered  on  the 
.iob.  Why  brick  must  be  raised  400  per  cent  I  do  not  know.  I  would 
like  to  hear  the  howl  people  would  make  if  laborers  would  ask  400  per 
cent  increase  in  wages. 

Alan  P.  Wilson:  My  sole  usefulness  to  this  assembly  lies  in  the 
fact  that  for  about  ten  years  I  have  been  separating  people  from  their 
money  in  selling  steel  forms.  Many  people  do  not  seem  to  understand 
that  there  are  available  today  commercially  tested  systems  of  steel  forms 
capable  of  being  re-used  almost  an  indefinite  number  of  times.    A  set  of 


122  PR0CEJEDING8  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

forms  which  I  sold  in  1909  is  in  use  today  and  last  year  was  re-sold  to 
a  construction  company  now  completing  a  grain  elevator  in  Buenos  Aires, 
South  America.  These  forms  had  been  used  probably  more  than  700 
times  before  they  left  the  United  States  and  were  still  as  good  as  ever 
when  they  were  shipped  out  of  the  country. 

The  first  feature  to  be  considered  in  connection  with  the  steel  forms 
is  the  number  of  times  they  may  be  handled  to  reduce  cost  of  each  use. 
Next,  their  type  as  to  the  kind  of  surface  that  can  be  given  to  the 
concrete,  permitting  suitable  finish  at  reasonable  expense.  Settle  those 
points  and  you  have  your  forms.  They  must  be  so  designed  that  they 
assemble  properly  and  need  the  minimum  of  shoring  and  bracing.  They 
must  leave  the  surface  sufficiently  free  from  offsets  where  the  panels 
come  together  that  these  surface  defects  will  not  show  through  a  half 
inch  of  stucco.  I  can  offer  such  a  form  and  there  are  many  others  on 
the  market  also  deserving  consideration. 

Geo.  E.  Lewis:  I  would  like  to  describe  very  briefly  the  Van 
Guilder  double  wall  form.  It  consists  of  a  small  metal  form  which  builds 
two  separate  parallel  walls  close  together  as  easily  as  a  thicker  single 
wall.  The  form  is  provided  with  a  quick  releasing  system  which  releases 
it  from  all  sides  of  the  two  walls.  Incidentally,  the  largest  form  weighs 
about  100  pounds,  is  5  feet  long  and  lays  two  walls  9  inches  high.  Either 
wall  can  be  3,  4,  5  or  6  inches  thick.  An  average  day's  work  for  an 
ordinary  operator  and  his  gang  is  about  400  linear  feet,  although  more 
can  be  accomplished  by  two  men  who  have  had  considerable  experience. 
As  much  as  1,000  linear  feet  has  been  laid  in  a  day. 

It  has  been  the  aim  and  object  of  the  Van  Guilder  people  to  develop 
a  system  of  concrete  construction  for  building  a  double  wall  with  a  con- 
tinuous dead  air  space  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  that  of  frame  construc- 
tion. The  continuous  air  space  secures  the  best  possible  insulation 
from  changing  temperature  conditions  and  enables  us  to  plaster  and 
decorate  directly  on  the  inner  concrete  surface. 

Walls  are  reinforced  longitudinally  and  tied  together  by  means  of 
galvanized  iron  crossties.  Placing  of  this  reinforcement  is  accomplished 
by  laying  a  course  9  inches  high  entirely  around  the  structure,  placing 
the  crossties  on  this  course,  then  laying  the  next  course  on  top  of  the 
one  already  laid  and  repeating  this  operation  throughout  the  entire 
construction  of  the  building. 

The  system  is  flexible  enough  to  follow  the  plans  of  the  architect 
even  though  they  may  be  intricate,  but  simple  enough  in  operation  to 
require  only  the  minimum  of  skilled  or  high-priced  workmen.  It  is  not 
a  new  system,  having  been  in  operation  for  a  number  of  years,  and 
buildings  can  be  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world  that  have  been  erected 
by  using  the  Van  Guilder  forms. 

C.  D.  MacArthur:  "We  have  had  a  form  on  the  market  for  seven 
or  eight  years  which  we  call  a  light  building  form.  It  is  applicable  to 
foundation  work,  for  light  retaining  walls,  for  grain  elevators,  for  any 
structure  where  light  walls  are  used  and  which  can  be  erected  in  heights 
of  not  to  exceed  10  feet ;  that  is,  pouring  10  feet  at  one  time.  In  that 
system  we  can  use  what  we  call  the  course  outfit  of  setting  up  the  forms 
4  feet  high  and  pouring  2  feet  at  a  time,  going  up  in  lifts  so  the  form 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  123 

has  a  general  application  for  light  building  construction  as  well  as  for 
floors,  roofs,  etc.  There  is  a  point  of  economy  in  the  use  of  these  forms. 
We  sell  them,  but  we  also  lease  them  to  contractors.  Where  a  contractor 
is  doing  general  building  construction,  it  is  more  economical  for  the 
contractor  to  equip  himself  with  these  forms  and  consider  them  a  part 
of  his  plant,  as  he  does  the  mixer  or  any  other  machine.  We  have  cus- 
tomers who  have  as  high  as  50,000  square  feet  of  these  forms  which  have 
been  in  use  for  several  years.  The  number  of  uses  we  can  get  from  them, 
as  Mr.  Wilson  says,  is  unlimited.  One  construction  company  has  used 
a  set  in  sewer  work  probably  300  times  without  any  appreciable  de- 
terioration. 

J.  E.  Richardson  :  I  have  just  built  a  house  in  California  using  a 
system  of  wood  forms  producing  a  hollow  concrete  wall.  With  this  sys- 
tem you  can  go  up  a  foot  at  a  time  or  a  story  at  a  time,  and  I  challenge 
anyone  with  any  other  system  to  build  as  cheaply  and  as  quickly  as  I 
can  and  leave  a  hollow  space  in  the  wall.  In  the  house  mentioned, 
which  is  lOJ  feet  high,  five  men  built  it  in  5^  days,  actual  working  time. 
This  included  assembling  and  dismantling  forms  and  pouring  concrete. 
The  actual  concrete  pouring  took  9  hours. 

A.  H.  Olmsted:  I  am  not  in  any  sense  representing  the  Lambie 
System  of  forms,  but  I  think  it  should  be  mentioned  because  it  has  had 
considerable  use.  It  is  a  story-at-a-time  system,  composed  of  units  6,  9, 
or  in  some  cases  12  inches  wide,  so  that  by  a  combination  of  two  6's  or 
a  6  and  a  9,  you  can  get  any  width  of  surface  horizontally  desired.  The 
plates  are  so  arranged  that  you  can  get  any  story  height  within  measure- 
ments of  3  inches.  The  system  is  very  flexible  as  to  design.  If  you 
have  10  sets  of  forms,  you  can  combine  them  all  into  one  set.  You  can 
build  a  single  house,  a  semidetached  house  or  an  apartment  house.  At 
Donora,  Pa.,  100  concrete  houses  were  built  using  this  system,  and 
even  under  very  unfavorable  conditions  the  houses  were  put  up  at  a  cost 
that  was  estimated  not  to  exceed  cost  of  brick  or  hollow  tile.  I  am  not 
interested  in  the  Lambie  House  Corporation,  but  feel  that  this  system 
should  be  kept  in  use  as  I  believe  if  we  are  going  to  build  concrete 
houses,  we  should  use  every  available  system  and  not  wait  three  or  four 
years  until  what  we  think  will  be  the  perfect  system  has  been  developed. 
A.  C.  Irwin:  Request  was  made  for  some  information  as  to  the 
methods  of  applying  stucco  to  concrete  surfaces.  I  should  like  to  hear 
from  those  who  have  had  experience  with  this  work.  I  notice  that  in 
the  report  the  Hodges  stucco  machine  was  mentioned.  Are  there  any  in 
the  room  who  have  used  this  machine  to  finish  the  exterior  surface  of 
monolithic  concrete  walls? 

S.  B.  Moore  :  I  have  not  used  it,  but  have  seen  the  machine  in  use 
in  Dallas,  Tex.  It  applies  some  J  or  f  of  an  inch  of  stucco  very  sub- 
stantially. The  work  to  which  I  refer  is  being  done  by  Klein  Brothers 
of  Dallas. 

Geo.  E.  Lewis  :  We  used  the  Hodges  machine  on  one  large  building 
in  Marion,  Ohio — a  store  building  with  offices,  and  secured  very  good 
results  at  reasonable  cost,  although  we  had  some  trouble  with  union 
labor,  making  it  cost  a  little  more  than  it  should  have.  Two-coat  work 
averaged  about  70  cents  a  yard. 


124  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

The  Chairman  :•  As  the  Chair  understands  it,  the  question  is,  how 
can  a  thin  stucco  coat  be  applied  except  by  the  splash  system?  Can 
anyone  answer  that  question? 

S.  B.  Moore:  A  thin  stucco  coat  cannot  be  plastered  directly  on 
the  smooth  concrete  wall.  It  will  peel  off.  The  only  way  you  can  get 
a  good  job  is  to  roughen  the  wall.  You  can  roughen  the  wall  if  you  can 
spade  the  concrete  so  that  coarse  material  comes  against  the  form,  so 
that  when  forms  have  been  taken  off  you  will  have  a  surface  with  which 
the  stucco  coat  will  clinch. 

Milton  Dana  Morrill  :  The  proof  of  the  pudding  is  in  the  eating. 
The  application  of  a  thin  coat  of  stucco  over  comparatively  smooth  con- 
crete has  been  done  on  hundreds  of  buildings  notAvithstanding  the  general 
opinion  of  its  impossibility.  Of  the  particular  buildings  of  which  I 
have  knowledge,  I  have  never  seen  a  portion  as  large  as  a  dollar  that 
has  flaked  off,  providing  it  was  put  on  without  too  much  troweling.  As 
a  general  rule,  on  smooth  walls  we  find  that  one  coat  gives  the  best 
satisfaction.  If  you  apply  stucco  of  .too  great  thickness  there  seems 
to  be  more  danger  of  cleavage.  From  my  personal  experience  I  have 
found  that  the  thinner  we  can  make  our  stucco,  the  better  and  more 
economical  the  results. 

E.  H.  Rawle:  I  would  like  to  volunteer  a  few  remarks  based  on 
practical  experience  in  plastering  concrete  walls,  not  walls  of  houses. 
In  the  construction  of  a  house  we  can't  regulate  the  elements.  We  may 
get  a  hot  sun  one  day,  rainy  weather  or  frost  the  next.  Assume  that 
it  has  rained  or  in  some  part  the  work  has  been  held  up  and  the  concrete 
has  hardened  so  that  you  cannot  roughen  the  surface  which  should  be 
done  as  soon  as  possible  after  removal  of  forms.  Your  stucco  will  adhere 
very  easily  if  you  can  scratch  the  surface  of  the  wall  in  this  way.  I  believe 
with  Mr.  Morrill  that  the  thinner  the  application  the  better  and  more 
economical.  But  if  the  concrete  has  stood  so  long  as  to  harden,  it  can 
be  roughened.  But  there  is  another  method  that  I  have  used  and  pos- 
sibly you  are  aware  of  it.  A  solution,  consisting  of  about  a  teaspoon  of 
muriatic  acid  to  about  a  gallon  of  water,  is  applied  to  the  concrete  and 
allowed  to  act  until  the  acid  has  lost  its  strength.  After  several  hours 
the  surface  is  flushed  with  clean  water  applied  by  a  hose.  The  acid 
will  have  cut  the  cement  coating  the  aggregate  particles,  giving  us  a 
fresh  surface.  If  the  weather  is  hot  when  the  stucco  coat  is  applied, 
it  must  be  kept  from  drying  out  in  some  way  for  48  or  60  hours.  If  that 
is  not  done  there  are  certain  to  be  fine  cracks  in  the  surface. 

F.  L.  Norton  :  Some  things  have  been  said  about  the  cheapness  of 
the  monolithic  house.  I  think  we  are  in  some  danger  there.  I  am  a 
real  estate  man  and  have  been  subdividing  and  selling  subdivisions  for 
a  number  of  years.  Last  year  we  built  on  one  of  my  subdivisions  15 
houses  ranging  in  cost  from  $3,000  to  $5,000.  This  year  we  expect  to 
build  double  wall  monolithic  houses,  but  my  argument  is  not  going  to 
be  cheapness.  ''Economy"  is  the  thing  we  want  to  look  to,  not  cheap- 
ness. My  argument  will  be,  not  cheaper,  but  better  houses,  and  I  think 
that  if  we  keep  that  in  mind  we  will  avoid  a  great  many  of  the  mistakes 
that  have  been  made  in  the  past  because  many  people  confuse  cheapness 
with  economy.     The  monolithic  double  wall  house  is  a  comparatively 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  125 

new  thing  and  there  would  be  danger  in  attempting  to  cheapen  it.  The 
result  would  probably  be  that  in  a  few  years  people  would  look  back  to 
failures. 

Leslie  H.  Allen:  I  am  particularly  pleased  with  what  the  gen- 
tleman has  just  said,,  namely  that  the  chief  argument  for  a  house  of 
this  kind  is  not  that  it  is  cheaper,  but  that  it  is  good — better.  That  is 
the  way  people  who  have  been  selling  concrete  roads  have  talked  about 
them.  Before  we  get  to  midsummer  we  will  be  talking  $6,000  for  a  six- 
room  house  with  all  improvements.  We  must  get  used  to  high  cost.  We 
are  only  misleading  and  fooling  ourselves  and  attempting  to  fool  the 
people  by  trying  to  talk  low  cost  for  concrete  or  any  other  material 
today.    We  must  use  the  best  material  and  consider  it  on  its  merits. 

S.  B.  Moore  :  I  would  like  to  tell  you  briefly  of  the  experience  of 
the  Turner  Construction  Company  in  building  an  industrial  village  at 
Baytown,  near  Houston,  Texas,  for  the  Humble  Oil  Co.  The  great 
problem,  as  you  all  know,  in  an  oil  field  is  to  get  skilled  labor.  Derrick 
buildci*s,  who  are  just  common  carpenters,  sometimes  draw  from  $12  to 
$15  a  day.  The  first  thing  the  Turner  Construction  Company  faced 
was  a  shortage  of  skilled  labor.  If  they  had  attempted  to  use  brick  or 
hollow  tile  no  one  knows  when  they  would  have  completed  their  job.  So 
they  ran  across  a  product  that  had  been  developed  in  Houston,  Texas, 
known  as  the  Moore  structural  unit.  This  consists  principally  of  12-inch 
concrete  channel  which  reverses  to  a  jaw  or  trough  at  the  top  and  which 
is  designed  so  that  when  this  jaw  is  poured  with  concrete  in  which 
suitable  reinforcement  is  laid,  the  wall  acts  essentially  as  a  monolith. 
The  Moore  structural  system,  as  it  is  known,  has  been  developed  with 
particular  reference  to  houses  or  other  buildings  up  to  three  stories 
high.  Speciallj^  designed  units  are  also  cast,  for  fioor  construction.  The 
Moore  system  eliminates  expensive  form  work  and  a  large  amount  of 
expensive  labor,  both  of  which  items  form  a  large  proportion  of  the  cost 
of  concrete  construction.  The  wall  units  are  set  up  vertically.  They 
are  reinforced  with  four  J-inch  rods  in  the  four  comers  of  web  and 
flanges  and  by  stirrups  of  No.  9  wire  on  2-foot  centers.  Nailing  blocks 
are  provided  and  are  embedded  in  the  flanges  of  the  channels,  securely 
anchored  by  nails  or  bolts.  These  nailing  blocks  are  uniformly  spaced 
and  provide  means  of  fastening  furring  strips.  Briefly  it  has  the  fol- 
lowing dominant  features: 

1.  Each  unit  provides  a  large  amount  of  air  space.  The  com- 
pleted wall  contains  a  larger  amount  of  air  space  than  secured  by 
any  other  similar  type  of  construction. 

2.  The  jaw  or  '*U"  opening  in  the  upper  end  of  each  unit  pro- 
vides the  form  and  space  for  the  lintel  beam  around  the  wall  at 
the  top  of  each  story. 

3.  Because  of  the  beveling  inward  of  the  flanges  of  the  units, 
there  is  formed  in  erecting  them  a  wedge-shaped  opening  which 
provides  a  key  wedge  for  stucco  and  insures  a  better  bond  of  the 
finish  stucco. 

4.  As  cast,  the  outside  face  of  webs  are  heavily  scored,  thus  pro- 
viding a  perfect  bonding  surface  for  the  finishing  coat  of  stucco. 

5.  Cross  sectional  area  of  concrete  is  35  square  inches  per  linear 


126 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Tie  Rodsy 


3F 


Liner 


Wedges 


ISOMETRIC  VIEW  tv 
OF  9" CHANNEL       ^^ 
UNIT 


•4; 
■  1 

>»  ■ 

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■  "■K 

■'i ' .  ■• 

}■}'. 


5e/f  coarse 
9"unifs. 
Wedges 


Liner 


r  Holes 
*^  for 
Wedges 

^  9"unifs 


ISOMETRIC  VIEW 

SHOWING  WALL  ^  Cf/^//V6 

FORMS  IN  PLACE 


<* 

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p:^: 

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Belt  course 


TYPICAL  WALL  SECTION 


Lambie  System.     Detail  of  form  units.     Wall  forms  are  also  used  to  mold  floors.     Forms  for 
one  entire  story  are  set  up  at  a  time. 


02^  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  127 

foot  of  wall  or  per  unit.    This  provides  ample  bearing  surface  to 
carry  the  wall  loads  of  any  one,  two  or  three  story  building. 

6  The  cross  sectional  area  of  steel,  which  is  .196  square  inches 
per  unit  or  linear  foot  of  wall,  provides  ample  steel  to  withstand 
stresses  and  with  stirrups  every  2  feet,  each  unit  is  made  to  act 
as  a  column. 

It  pcnnlts  pennanent  and  fireproof  or  highly  fire  resistive  construc- 
tion, walls  absolutely  free  from  sweating,  and  speed  of  erection  at  a 
low  cost. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  VARIOUS  METHODS  OF  MONOLITHIC 
CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION: 

Lamhie  System: 

Lambie  forms  are  manufactured  from  6-inch  shipbuilding  channels 
and  standard  9-inch  channels  of  various  lengths  together  with  Imer 
angles,  release  plates,  inside  and  outside  comers,  collapsible  floor  forms 
and  belt  course. 

The  standard  channel  units  are  7  feet  6  inches  long,  punched  on 
flanges  and  on  ends  so  that  they  can  be  clipped  together  m  a  horizontal 
or  vertical  position.  Any  dimension  in  multiples  of  3  inches  can  be 
obtained  by  combining  6-inch  and  9-inch  units.  Height  of  ceiling  in 
multiples  of  3  inches  can  be  obtained  by  using  the  units  vertically  and 
horizontally  and  openings  for  doors  and  windows  can  be  made  at  any 
point  and  of  any  size.  Porches  and  areaways  are  formed  with  the 
body  of  the  house. 

The  individual  channel  units  are  secured  to  each  other  with  clips 
and  wedges.  A  special  angle-iron  liner  is  then  inserted  m  the  notches 
in  the  channel  iron  to  insure  a  perfectly  straight  surface.  At  the  same 
time  as  the  wall  forms  are  erected  the  forms  for  the  floor  or  roof  above 
are  put  in  place.  Then  both  side  walls  and  floors  are  cast.  When  the 
forms  for  the  basement  are  erected  their  tops  are  attached  to  a  special 
member  called  the  belt  course,  which  holds  the  forms  in  place,  and  are 
cross-braced  by  steel  rods  extending  from  one  side  of  the  house  to  the 
other  These  rods  remain  in  place  after  floors  are  cast  and  serve  as 
reinforcing  for  the  floor.  The  belt  course  is  also  placed  at  the  second 
stoiT  floor  line  and  the  forms  used  for  first  floor  are  used  throughout 
the  building  by  raising  them  from  story  to  story.  The  regular  channel 
units  are  used  for  forming  the  floors. 

Hydraulic  Steelcraft  Forms: 

These  forms  consist  of  light  pressed  steel  U-shaped  vertical  liners 
and  horizontal  ribs  supporting  steel  form  plates  backed  with  wood. 
The  edges  of  the  wood  backing  are  clad  with  light  steel  plates.    Keyhole 


128 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Keyhole  slots 

6" on  centers -2^ 


Liner  keyed 
and  wedged  to  uphgfit 


Steel  plates 
vjith  IVa'TSrG 
wood  backing 


damp  in  posi  tion        t 

securing  forms.--\ 

Standard  spacing) 

24' on  centers 


C/omp  removed 


Clamp  moved   J 

up  in  keyhole  slot  arid 

to  permit  removing  forms. 


^■.:  Special  inside  and  ' " .  .%•. '  Plates  removed 
.•   outs/de  corner  uprights    •    leaving  uprights 
o,^^  Clamps-  ;.••/.  [^^y^-;    to  support  wall 

Tie  rods  omitted  for  '^'^   -^  •"  -  •  """    ^  ^ 
clearness 
o 


o      &    ■ 

7  .. 
^Vz  rods 

every  3-0' 

of  height 


f 


PLAN 


Standard  spacing  of  uprights  3-3' 
Standard  plates  2-o'x3-o  "with 
end  plates  to  suit 


Hydraulic  Steel  Craft  System.     Details  of  forms.     The  clamps  are  easily  placed  or  removed, 
facilitating  the  quick  setting  up  or  removal  of  the  form  panels. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


129 


Corners 
rounded. 


Opening     , 
for  t/'e-rod- 


U- Shaped  clamping  pMe 

r/ela/ 


Schub   System.     Detail  of  forms.     These  molds  are   quickly  assembled  and   are   secured   by 
clamps  on  the  flanges  and  by  tie  rods  at  the  junction  of  four  plates. 

slots  in  ihe  backs  of  the  vertical  liners  enable  the  horizontal  ribs  to  be 
clamped  on  by  means  of  a  key,  wedge  and  U-clamp. 

In  erection,  the  framework  of  ribs  and  liners  is  erected  and  aligned. 
The  plates  may  be  left  off  while  reinforcing  steel  is  being  placed  or  they 
may  be  removed  at  any  point  to  give  access  to  the  forms  for  cleaning 
or  other  purposes.  Floors  and  roof  slabs  are  constructed  by  using  the 
same  equipment  as  for  walls. 

These  forms  can  be  erected  with  any  labor  available,  as  skilled  labor 
is  not  required.  No  cutting  or  fitting  is  done.  Forms  are  automatically 
spaced  by  the  liners.  All  fastenings  are  of  a  quick  acting  wedge  type 
which  requires  only  driving  up  the  wedge  with  a  hammer. 

No  part  is  heavier  than  one-man  size.  With  one  set  of  forms  an 
ordinary  twostory  six-room  house  with  basement  can  be  erected  at  the 
rate  of  one  house  every  eight  working  days. 

T/ie  ScJiuh  System: 

The  Schub  System  consists  of  a  plurality  of  metal  plates,  generally 
square  in  form.  These  plates  are  flanged  on  all  outer  edges  with  angle- 
irons.  To  accommodate  variations  in  length  of  structures,  shorter  plates 
are  used,  these  being  of  the  same  height  and  construction  as  the  common 
square  molds.  By  setting  these  short  plates  or  molds  on  edge  varying 
heights  can  be  obtained. 

Flanges  have  two  holes  on  each  side,  one  located  near  each  corner, 
matching  corresponding  holes  in  adjoining  plates.  Through  any  pair 
of  holes  the  pin  of  a  lever  handled  V-slotted  clamp  is  inserted  and  when 
the  handle  is  pushed  down,  the  flanges  of  adjoining  plates  or  molds  are 
drawn  tightly  and  firmly  together  within  the  V-slot  of  the  clamp. 

Sleeves,  short  lengths  of  pipe,  slightly  less  than  the  width  of  the 
finished  wall  in  length,  are  used  to  separate  the  inner  and  outer  molds 


130  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

and  also  permit  bolts  or  rods  to  pass  through  for  drawing  the  forms 
together.  A  cone-shaped  washer  is  placed  at  each  end  of  the  sleeve, 
thus  increasing  the  length  to  the  exact  width  of  wall  desired.  At  the 
common  corner  of  four  mold  plates  the  bolt  is  inserted  between  the 
rounded  comers  of  the  plates  through  the  sleeve  and  clamping-washers 
placed  on  each  end  of  these  bolts.  When  the  top  tier  of  forms  is  reached 
a  loosely  placed  U-shaped  washer  is  placed  over  the  end  of  each  rod 
which  locks  or  clamps  the  four  plates  together  at  the  corner. 

When  forms  are  removed,  the  washers  on  the  ends  of  the  sleeves 
are  pried  out  and  the  holes  filled  with  cement  mortar.  When  adapting 
plates  to  corner  construction  an  angle  iron  is  placed  or  fastened  to  the 
edge  of  the  common  square  plate,  thus  turning  the  plate  at  right  angles. 

TJie  Fellgren  System: 

In  the  Fellgren  System  a  framework  is  erected  as  for  the  ordinary 
frame  construction.  Studs  are  grooved  on  the  4-inch  face  and  properly 
spaced  for  furring  for  lath.  The  grooves  anchor  the  studs  into  the  con- 
crete and  also  support  the  inner  mold  boards,  w^hich  occupy  the  space 
between  studs.  These  mold  boards  are  about  square  in  shape  and  are 
held  at  any  desired  height  by  latches  fitting  into  the  grooves  in  the  studs. 
The  outer  forms  are  built  of  one-inch  lumber  connected  so  as  to  form 
units  by  two  stringers.  These  units  are  about  two  feet  in  height  and 
any  desired  length,  and  are  fastened  to  the  studding  and  held  at  proper 
distance  by  lag  screws  and  separators.  After  any  layer  of  concrete  has 
been  placed  and  has  become  sufficiently  hard,  the  lag  screws  are  removed 
and  the  outer  forms  moved  to  the  position  immediately  above.  The 
holes  made  by  the  lag  screws  are  filled  with  cement  mortar  when  forms 
are  removed.  The  walls  are  generally  about  6  inches  thick  and  IJ  inches 
of  the  studs  extends  beyonds  the  concrete  on  the  inside  face  of  the  wall. 
This  provides  an  air  space  between  the  concrete  wall  and  the  lath-and- 
plaster,  which  serves  as  insulation.  The  exterior  surface  of  the  concrete 
walls  can  be  finished  in  any  manner  desired.  In  this  system  concrete 
work  has  so  far  been  confined  to  wall  construction,  but  the  inventor,  C. 
W.  Fellgren,  has  developed  the  system  for  use  in  constructing  floors  and 
roofs. 

Ingersoll  System: 

This  method  is  more  particularly  adapted  to  industrial  houses  where 
several  units  of  similar  design  and  plan  are  to  be  built.  These  might  be 
called  standardized  houses.  Footings  and  basement  floor  are  placed  in 
one  operation,  after  which  form  work  for  the  entire  house  is  erected  at 
one  time  and  the  house  is  completely  cast  during  one  operation. 

An  interior  rigid  framework  for  the  two  stories  is  first  erected. 
This  framework  consists  of  columns  continuous  throughout  all  stories  ^ 
and  held  in  their  positions  rigidly  by  trusses.  On  this  supporting  frame- 
work are  hung  the  forms  which  mold  the  concrete  of  the  outside  and 
partition  walls,  the  stairs,  floors  and  roof,  the  cornice,  brackets  and  other 
ornamental  work. 

The  forms  are  kept  from  bulging  by  means  of  iron  bars  which  extend 
through  forms  and  wall.     Wooden  separators  are  placed  between  the 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


131 


■*-Sash 


Rods 
!2"cfrs. 
Horiz.' 


2y4''stud 


\'  Air  space 


plan  showing 
detail  of  window 
frame: 


ELEVATION  OF  INSIDE   FORM 
SECTION 


Spacing  blocks  to  be  remoi/ed  as 
concreftng  progresses 

Sthn^er-^  \    (Bolt 


^  r  Air  space 


PLAN  SHOWING 
DETAIL  OF  DOOR 
FRAME 


ey^-'Sfud 


PLAN  OF 
WALL  AND  FORM 


Fellgren  System.     General  details  of  forms.     The  door  and  window  frames  are  imbedded  In  the 
concrete,  effectually  preventing  the  passage  of  air  behind  the  frames. 


132 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


F^W 


Strings 


P^T/^fl.  OF 

ftip  conn£cr/on 


Post: 


V\/indow 
frame. 


Plan    or 
House  Corner 


Elev/^tjon 
OF    Tr?usBES 

Ingersoll  System.     Details  of  form  at  window  openings  and  method  of  supporting  floor  and 
*  wall  forms. 


OV  C02JCRBftl  BOUSE  CONSTRUGTtON  133 

inside  faces  of  the  forms,  so  that  the  entire  form  structure  is  absolutely 
rigid  before  any  concrete  is  placed. 

All  reinforcing  steel  is  placed  in  the  form  before  the  house  is  cast. 
The  vent  and  soil  pipes,  electric  conduits,  metal  flue  lining  for  the 
chimneys,  window  frames,  door  bucks,  furring  strips,  nailing  blocks, 
etc.,  are  also  set  in  place  before  the  concrete  is  cast. 

The  concrete  is  placed  through  window  or  door  openings  on  the 
lower  story,  thus  eliminating  the  danger  of  separation  of  the  aggregate 
from  the  cement,  which  might  occur  if  the  concrete  for  the  entire  house 
were  placed  from  the  roof. 

Metaforms  System: 

The  Metaforms  system  of  forms  is  based  on  a  24-inch  square,  light 
metal  unit.  Special  units  of  dimensions  graded  down  every  two  inches 
to  a  2-inch  plate  permit  the  construction  of  walls  of  any  multiple  of  2 
inches  in  length,  and  one  special  3-inch  plate  used  in  conjunction  with 
these  enables  a  wall  to  be  built  any  odd  number  of  inches  in  length. 

The  unit  consists  of  a  galvanized  iron  sheet  with  a  1-inch  by  1-inch 
angle  riveted  to  all  sides,  and  an  additional  angle  across  the  middle  of 
the  plate  to  act  as  a  stiffener.  The  top  and  bottom  angles  are  provided 
with  holes  opposite  each  other,  in  which  spikes  are  dropped  to  maintain 
vertical  alignment.  On  each  of  the  side  angles  there  are  small  pins 
projecting  one-eighth  inch,  near  the  top  and  bottom,  which  fit^  into 
corresponding  holes  in  the  angle  of  the  adjoining  unit,  thus  maintaining 
horizontal  alignment.  One  of  the  side  angles  has  pinned  to  it  two 
malleable  iron  clamps  which  clamp  the  flanges  of  adjoining  units  se- 
curely together.  These  units  are  wired  in  a  manner  similar  to  wood 
forms,  holes  being  provided  in  the  plates  for  that  purpose.  Stay  rods, 
adjustable  to  the  thickness  of  the  wall,  hold  the  plates  apart. 

A  one-inch  angle  with  clamps  is  provided  for  outside  corners  of 
the  wall.  The  inside  corner  connection  is  a  2-inch  angle  having  smaller 
angles  riveted  to  the  extremities  of  the  legs.  A  hinged  corner  with 
clamps  can  be  used  for  non-rectangular  buildings  or  bay  windows. 

Morrill  System: 

The  standard  Morrill  form  unit  is  a  plate  24  inches  square,  weigh- 
ing about  30  pounds.  Another  size  is  an  oblong  plate  16  inches  by  48 
inches.  Plates  are  punched  from  the  sheet  and  flanged  by  pressing  in 
a  die.  The  plates  are  secured  together,  flange  to  flange,  with  *'U"- 
clips  and  steel  wedges. 

Spacers  and  wedges  secure  the  two  faces  of  the  forms  rigidly  in 
place.  To  avoid  the  use  of  special  dimension  plates  to  fit  different  size 
buildings,  the  comer  plates  lap  by,  thus  obtaining  any  dimensions 
desired. 

The  molds  may  be  used  in  four  different  ways,  according  to  the 
work  to  be  done : 

1.  The  plates  may  be  set  up  story  high  and  the  entire  story  cast 
at  one  operation. 


134 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


^FroJecHnq  pin  fits 
Into  hole  //?  angle  " 
adjoining  unit 

Spacers, 


^3pike  dropped 


P£T/f/L 

Isometric 

J u NOT  ion  orUniTs 

^^  H//iG-£D  CORNF 


or^AT£R/i/lL  /iM&L£. 


Metaforms  System.     General  details  of  forms.     The  clamping  devices  are  fastened  to  the  forms 
thus  reducing  the  number  of  loose  parts. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


135 


p/ate. 


T/'e  straps. 
5pac/n(^ 
p/pe. 


Fi^^n 


Morrill  System.     Details  showing  application  of  forms.     The  speedy  movement  of  forms  afforded 
by  this  method  provides  an  economical  construction. 


136  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

2.  The  two-tier  *' Swing-up ' '  method  may  be  employed. 

3.  The  one-tier  ''move-forward"  method  may  be  used. 

4.  For  the  small  job,  the  two-mold  ''swing-forward"  outfit  is  most 
suitable. 

The  first  method  allows  the  casting  of  an  entire  story  of  a  house  in 
one  day,  using  the  forms  three  times  on  a  two-story  house.  The  second 
utilizes  a  smaller  equipment,  and  the  walls  for  the  average  two-story 
cottage  take  one  week,  using  the  forms  nine  times  to  construct  courses 
16  inches  high.  The  third — the  one-tier  "move-forward"  outfit — re- 
quires only  a  few  pairs  of  plates,  and  it  is  possible  on  a  development  to 
have  from  10  to  20  houses  going  on  at  the  same  time. 

In  the  two-tier  "swing-up"  method,  the  upper  and  lower  tiers  of 
plates,  both  inside  and  out,  are  secured  together  in  multiples  of  10  to  15. 
These  two  tiers  of  plates  are  connected  from  their  center  points  by  hinge 
arms.  The  two  tiers  of  plates  are  set  up  on  the  foundation  and  filled  with 
concrete  and  allowed  to  set  a  few  hours.  The  lower  tier  is  released  by 
driving  out  locking  wedges.  This  allows  the  plates  to  hang  free  and 
to  swing  up,  revolving  through  a  half  circle  on  the  hinge  arms  connect- 
ing the  centers  of  the  pairs  of  plates. 

In  this  way  from  40  to  60  square  feet  of  wall  form  is  set  in  one 
operation,  and  the  plates  are  swung  up,  tier  after  tier  until  the  top 
of  the  wall  is  reached.  Then  the  connecting  wedges  are  driven  out  and 
the  plates  are  ready  to  move  to  the  next  job. 

By  the  "swing-up"  method,  three  men  can  raise  and  set  in  place  50 
square  feet  of  form  in  less  than  three  minutes. 

In  using  the  one-tier  "move-forward"  method,  a  few  pairs  of  flanged 
plates  are  set  up  where  the  wall  is  to  be  molded.  When  the  molds  have 
been  filled  with  a  "quaky"  mix,  the  first  molds  filled  can  be  removed 
and  passed  forward  to  a  new  position  along  the  wall. 

The  two-mold  "swing-forward"  method  employs  the  smallest  of 
the  Morrill  Wall  Molding  outfits.  By  this  method,  the  wall  is  molded 
in  place  block  by  block.  The  concrete  must  be  stiff  enough  to  stand 
alone  so  that  the  side  plates  may  be  stripped  at  once  or  some  delay  must 
be  allowed  for  the  concrete  to  harden  sufficiently  to  stand.  With  this 
outfit  corner  angle  rods  are  used  to  keep  the  wall  straight  and  plumb. 
The  outfit  can  be  carried  on  a  wheelbarrow. 

Blaw-Knox  Forms: 

BlaAV-Knox  forms  consist  of  standard  sheet  metal  panels  two  feet 
square  reinforced  with  steel  angles  on  all  four  sides  and  diagonally. 
Fractional  panels,  lap  and  corner  panels  are  used  for  adjusting  the 
forms  to  various  wall  dimensions  and  thicknesses. 

In  assembling,  the  forms  are  secured  to  each  other  by  means  of 
wedge  keys  that  are  interchangeable  and  are  slotted.  The  wedges  are 
inserted  in  holes  in  the  form  fianges  and  a  second  wedge  is  driven  into 
the  slot  of  the  first  wedge,  locking  the  forms  securely.  When  forms 
are  to  be  shifted  by  hand  they  are  usually  assembled  in  single  courses 
two  feet  high  (the  height  of  panels)  in  units  containing  not  more  than 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION 


137 


/S0t15TRIC 
Vl£W 


Panels 


t 


p7ne/s 


f\ 


rPaneJ 
>       r liner 


v2/////y/D 


Methop  of  JoiMfno      ^fiHop  oF/JTT^cH/ne 


Blaw-Enox   System.     Details  of  forms   and  method  of  assembling  panels. 


138  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

twenty-four  square  feet  of  surface.     The  forms  are  then  fastened  to 
horizontal  liners  ordinarily  11  feet  6  inches  long. 

The  horizontal  liner  is  attached  to  the  forms  by  means  of  small 
plates  slotted  to  take  the  leg  of  angle  liner.  These  plates  have  an 
integral  latch  piece  which  is  inserted  in  corresponding  flange  slots  in  the 
form  panels.  When  horizontal  angle  liner  is  placed  in  the  slot  in  the 
plates  the  latch  piece  is  drawn  up  tigthly  and  liner  is  made  secure  with 
wedge  key.    The  forms  are  now  securely  fastened  and  aligned. 

Two  to  five  courses  of  assembled  sets  can  be  used  by  spacing  one 
above  the  other  and  these  are  joined  by  means  of  vertical  liners  placed 
six  to  eight  feet  centers,  which  are  fastened  to  the  horizontal  liners  by 
means  of  plates  similar  in  principle  to  those  described. 

Where  a  large  amount  of  concrete  is  to  be  placed  at  one  time  wire 
ties  are  used  to  prevent  spreading.  When  using  single  tier  forms, 
clamps  are  used  at  top  of  forms  to  prevent  spreading  of  forms. 

Specially  designed  sheet  metal  forms  are  best  adapted  to  floor  and 
roof  construction. 


02^  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  139 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  UNIT 
CONSTRUCTED  HOUSES 

Until  very  recently  house  construction  has  been  almost  wholly  an 
individual  enterprise.  Modern  methods  of  industrial  organization  and 
labor-saving  machinery  have  lately  been  applied  on  every  hand,  result- 
ing in  enormous  increase  in  production  during  the  last  century  and 
making  possible  the  great  forward  strides  in  the  world's  accumulation 
and  enjoyment  of  wealth. 

During  the  past  ten  or  fifteen  years  some  attention  has  been  given 
to  the  feasibility  of  applying  quantity  production  to  house  construction, 
so  that  dwellings,  like  other  products,  might  be  '*  machine-made "  in- 
stead of  ''hand-made."  Experiments  were  made  with  varying  degrees 
of  success ;  but  the  problem  was  not  faced  in  a  really  big  way  until  war- 
time expansion  of  industry  and  restrictions  on  building  activities  cre- 
ated an  acute  shortage  of  houses  in  all  industrial  communities  through- 
out the  country.  The  war  also  demonstrated  that  the  employer  of  labor 
must  often  provide  comfortable  homes  for  his  employes  and  that  proper 
housing  is  just  as  important  as  any  part  of  plant  or  equipment. 

It  was  evident  to  every  thinking  man  that  the  prevailing  methods 
of  house  construction  could  not  relieve  the  situation.  Material  and 
labor  prices  had  increased  to  the  point  where  individual  effort  was  dis- 
couraged by  the  prohibitive  cost.  To  make  matters  worse,  so-called 
skilled  labor  became  less  efficient  as  wages  increased.  As  one  example  of 
many,  bricklayers  who  formerly  laid  an  average  of  2,200  bricks  per  day 
at  55  cents  per  hour,  now  lay  only  1,000  bricks,  or  less,  per  day  at  $1  per 
hour.  Another  typical  case  came  to  light  in  January,  1920,  when  an  old 
established  piano  manufacturing  company  in  England  closed  its  doors 
and  went  out  of  business.  The  officials  of  the  piano  company  issued  a 
statement  to  the  effect  that  for  each  piano  turned  out  per  week  they 
were  employing  26  men,  as  against  12  men  in  1918  and  6  before  the 
war,  and  that  the  factory  wages  on  each  piano  exceeded  the  selling 
price. 

In  the  face  of  such  conditions  it  is  not  surprising  that  Architects, 
Engineers  and  Builders  are  turning  to  a  method  of  house  construction 
which  makes  use  of  modern  labor-saving  machinery,  employs  the  ad- 
vantages of  standardization  and  scientific  management,  utilizes  materials 
locally  available,  and  at  the  same  time  produces  houses  of  permanent  and 
fire-resistive  construction  and  correct  architectural  design. 

Unit  Construction 

''Special  unit  construction"  is  the  term  applied  to  that  method  of 
concrete  house  construction  in  which  wall  and  floor  slabs,  beams,  gird- 
ers, partitions  and  columns  are  precast  at  some  convenient  central  point, 
conveyed  to  the  building  site  and  assembled  into  the  finished  structure. 

The  units  must  be  kept  in  the  curing  yard  from  10  to  30  days, 
depending  on  the  weather  and  the  size,  thickness  and  shape  of  the  sec- 
tions. At  the  time  of  casting  all  surfaces  which  will  be  exposed  to  view 
in  the  completed  structure  are  finished  with  a  wood  float,  with  pebble 


140 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Residence  at  Dallas,  Texas,  built  of  small  concrete  units  with  stucco  finish  according  to  the 

Sawyer  System. 


^ 


» 


IBI  piGIl 


An  interesting  example  of  the  Moore  System  type  of  concrete  house  at  Houston,  Texas. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  141 

dash,  exposed  aggi'egate  or  any  other  finish  desired.  Any  surface  which 
is  to  be  stuccoed  should  be  scored  to  provide  a  suitable  ground  for  the 
stucco. 

In  many  cases  it  is  a  distinct  advantage  to  use  crushed  blast  furnace 
slag  as  the  aggregate  for  the  concrete,  in  order  to  reduce  the  weight  and 
the  cost  of  handling  the  sections. 

Fire  resistive  construction  requires  that  all  structural  parts  be 
permanent  and  fire-resistive.  The  non-structural  parts,  such  as  interior 
trim,  may  be  of  combustible  material,  but  it  is  best  to  reduce  combustible 
trim  to  the  minimum  by  omitting  it  around  windows  and  doors,  round- 
ing off  plastered  corners  and  putting  in  concrete  base  boards  and  mastic 
floors. 

In  several  types  of  special  unit  construction  the  structural  frame- 
work is  cast  in  place,  the  remainder  of  the  building  being  composed  of 
precast  units  of  somewhat  smaller  sections  than  in  types  where  all  parts 
are  precast.  This  is  in  reality  a  combination  of  monolithic  and  unit 
construction.  In  all  cases,  however,  the  precast  units  can  be  made  to 
best  advantage  at  a  central  plant  with  suitable  mechanical  equipment. 

Special  unit  construction  where  all  parts  are  precast  is  best  adapted 
to  the  erection  of  large  groups  of  houses.  This  means  that  the  most 
profitable  field  for  this  type  of  construction  lies  in  industrial  housing 
developments.  This  in  turn  involves  town  planning,  colony  design  and 
architecture,  provision  for  recreation  and  the  construction  of  streets 
and  sewer  systems.  Town  planning,  architecture  and  engineering  must 
be  combined  and  harmonized  to  procure  satisfactory  results. 

In  many  cases  houses  are  owned  and  controlled  by  the  industry  for 
a  number  of  years  and  consequently  the  upkeep  and  insurance  are  im- 
portant items  in  considering  cost. 

Requirements  of  Architectural  Design 

One  of  the  greatest  difficulties  encountered  in  quantity  production 
of  houses  is  the  selection  of  a  type  of  architecture  which  will  utilize 
available  ground,  be  attractive  and  still  be  susceptible  of  some  standardi- 
zation. Town  planners  too  often  consider  the  town  plan  as  a  problem 
in  map  making  without  regard  to  the  requirements  of  architecture  or 
construction. 

In  selecting  a  type  of  architecture  for  any  case  in  hand,  it  cannot 
be  too  strongly  emphasized  that  unit  construction  does  not  contemplate 
standardization  of  living  conditions  of  human  beings  through  the  con- 
struction of  mile  upon  mile  of  houses  of  identical  appearance.  Individual 
cases  must  be  studied  and  architectural  types  and  construction  methods 
selected  which  will  produce  a  sound  developement  both  from  the  aesthetic 
and  financial  standpoints. 

The  type  of  building  may  be  selected  with  the  knowledge  that  unit 
construction  is  suitable  for  any  form  of  architecture  which  permits  a 
reasonable  duplication  of  standard  structural  members,  whether  in  sin- 
gle houses,  semidetached  houses,  group  houses  or  apartments. 

On  a  development  where  skilled  labor  is  to  be  housed,  or  where 
it  is  advantageous  to  dispose  of  the  property  through  sale,  the  detached 
or  semidetached  house  should  be  adopted. 


142  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

If  the  development  is  for  unskilled  negro  or  foreign  labor,  where 
the  property  will  be  operated  on  a  rental  basis,  the  group,  or  terrace 
type  of  houses  should  be  selected. 

In  congested  industrial  districts,  where  the  great  demand  is  for 
two,  three  or  four  rooms  with  bath,  the  most  suitable  type  is  the  apart- 
ment structure,  having  a  maximum  amount  of  light  and  air  and  requir- 
ing a  minimum  of  household  work. 

Plans  and  Details 

Plans  for  the  houses  must  show  proper  regard  for  the  type  of 
construction  and  the  character  of  future  occupancy.  Main  partitions 
on  the  upper  floors  must  be  placed  directly  over  those  on  floors  beneath. 
Every  foot  of  space  must  be  put  to  some  useful  purpose.  Houses 
intended  as  living  quarters  for  negro  and  foreign  families,  must  devote 
a  comparatively  large  proportion  of  space  to  sleeping  quarters,  because 
of  the  large  families  usually  found  in  these  cases.  Thus  the  kitchen 
and  dining  room  may  be  one,  while  the  living  room  may  also  be  a  bed- 
room. On  the  other  hand,  families  of  the  better  class  of  skilled  work- 
men are  smaller  on  the  average,  so  that  more  space  may  be  assigned  to 
living  than  to  sleeping  quarters.  Even  the  families  of  skilled  work- 
men will  not  object  if  the  outer  door  opens  directly  from  the  porch  to 
the  living  room,  without  an  intervening  vestibule ;  and  the  bathroom  need 
be  no  larger  than  absolutely  necessary  to  provide  space  for  the  fixtures. 
Linen  closets,  built-in  book  cases  and  cabinets,  window  seats  and  other 
conveniences  of  this  kind  must  be  entirely  eliminated,  for  they  add  to 
the  difficulties  of  construction,  take  up  space,  and  cost  money. 

Unit  construction  simplifies  the  problem  of  securing  hollow  walls, 
a  matter  of  great  importance  in  preventing  dampness,  conserving  heat 
in  winter  and  keeping  the  building  cool  in  summer.  Slabs  may  be  set 
up  in  the  form  of  double  walls  with  an  air  space  between,  and  in  ex- 
tremely cold  climates  a  triple  wall  with  a  double  air  space  can  be  used 
to  good  advantage.  Triple  walls  were  used  in  a  group  of  eight  houses 
erected  in  1914  at  St.  Johns,  Quebec,  after  the  Simpsoncraft  system. 

Because  of  the  fact  that  walls,  partitions  and  floors  are  built  of 
incombustible  material,  metal  conduits  for  electric  wiring  may  be  omit- 
ted. Wires  can  be  passed  through  porcelain  tubes  which  are  placed  in 
the  concrete  when  the  sections  are  poured  in  the  casting  yard. 

Typical  Examples 

Special  types  can  be  illustrated  most  effectively  by  direct  reference 
to  actual  projects  carried  out  by  unit  methods. 

YouNGSTOWN  Sheet  &  Tube  Co.  Project 

This  project  consists  of  281  houses  of  the  group,  or  terrace,  type 
of  arrangement,  of  which  146  houses,  consisting  of  three  and  four  rooms 
with  bath  and  laundry,  are  located  in  the  foreign  colony,  and  135 
houses,  of  two,  three  and  four  rooms  with  bath  and  laundry,  are  in 
the  negro  colony. 

Living  rooms   and   dining  kitchens  have   average   dimensions  of 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  143 

16  by  10  feet,  bedrooms  arc  16  by  10  feet  and  10  by  10  feet,  and  laun- 
dries are  15  by  10  feet. 

These  houses  constructed  in  1918  by  the  Unit  Construction  Co.  of 
St.  Louis,  consist  entirely  of  reinforced  concrete  members  for  the  walls, 
floors,  partitions  and  second  story  ceiling.  The  roof  above  the  second 
story  ceiling  is  framed  in  timber  and  covered  with  tile.  This  extensive 
use  of  reinforced  concrete  members  eliminated  about  75  per  cent  of  the 
carpenter  labor  and  80  per  cent  of  the  plastering  required  under  ordi- 
nary methods  of  construction.  Revised  designs  and  engineering  plans 
contemplate  the  use  of  steel  sash,  mastic  floors,  complete  elimination  of 
wood  trim,  the  adoption  of  concrete  baseboards  and  concrete  roof  con- 
struction, thereby  dispensing  with  practically  all  cai*penter  labor  on 
future  operations. 

Outer  walls  are  cast  with  concrete  studs  and  have  a  wooden  furring 
strip  attached,  and  are  lathed  and  plastered.  This  produces  a  dead  air 
space.  Floors  are  provided  with  nailing  strips  embedded  in  the  concrete 
and  have  wood  flooring  laid  directly  on  the  concrete  slab. 

All  of  these  houses  are  provided  with  modern  plumbing,  electric 
lights,  and  gas  connections  in  the  kitchen  and  the  laundry.  Interior 
walls,  partitions  and  ceilings  are  painted  in  oil,  while  the  exterior  con- 
crete is  treated  with  a  waterproof  paint. 

The  entire  project  is  operated  on  a  rental  basis  by  the  Buckeye 
Land  Company,  a  subsidiary  of  the  Youngstown  Sheet  &  Tube  Com- 
pany. 

The  process  of  manufacture  of  the  units  followed  the  general  lines 
of  modern  industrial  operations.  They  were  cast  in  a  casting  yard,  con- 
sisting of  a  series  of  concrete  casting  platforms  about  20  feet  wide  and 
several  hundred  feet  long,  the  space  between  the  platforms  being  occu- 
pied by  a  standard  gage  track  over  which  a  locomotive  crane  was  oper- 
ated. 

The  mixing  plant  at  one  end  of  the  yard  consists  of  a  storage  house 
for  cement  and  bins  for  sand,  crushed  stone,  gravel  or  crushed  slag. 
All  these  materials  are  controlled  by  machinery,  such  as  belt  conveyors, 
bucket  elevators  and  derricks  with  clam-shell  buckets. 

Concrete  was  deposited  directly  into  the  forms  by  special  hopper 
cars  and  locomotive  cranes.  After  deposited  it  was  struck  off  and 
finished  where  a  smooth  surface  was  desired,  or  scored  to 
produce  a  rough  surface  to  receive  interior  plaster  or  exterior  stucco. 
Many  of  these  wall  sections  were  as  large  as  10  by  20  feet,  while  some 
floor  sections  were  15  by  20  feet.  After  the  concrete  had  hardened, 
sections  were  lifted  out  of  the  forms  by  the  locomotive  crane  and  placed 
in  stock  piles  ready  for  erection. 

Manufacture  of  the  units  proceeded  while  the  general  development 
work,  such  as  construction  of  streets,  sidewalks  and  sewers,  excavation 
and  foundation  work,  were  being  carried  on.  Erection  of  the  houses 
proceeded  independently  of  manufacturing  or  delays  in  the  receipt  of 
materials.  The  units  were  conveyed  from  the  stockyard  to  the  building 
site  by  truck  and  put  directly  into  place  by  traveling  erecting  der- 
ricks. 

Labor  requirements  were  easily  met.     Carpenter  labor  was  only  25 


144 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Unit  built  concrete  houses  at  Youngstown,  Ohio.     This  entire  group  consists  of  281  houses  and 
represents   an   important   example   of   Industrial    Housing. 


A  group  of  Simpson  Craft  concrete  houses  at  Lansford,   Pa.,  built  for  the   Lehigh   Coal  and 

Navigation  Co. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  145 

per  cent  of  the  requirements  on  ordinary  construction.  Erection  was 
handled  by  steel  erectors,  of  whom  the  majority  have  been  in  the  com- 
pany's employ  from  five  to  ten  years,  are  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
work  and  produce  a  real  day's  work. 

Aside  from  the  above  mentioned  classes  of  labor  and  such  special- 
ists as  hoisting  enginemen,  crane  operators,  and  men  skilled  in  the  use 
of  mixers  and  the  distribution  of  concrete,  the  balance  of  the  labor  was 
so-called  unskilled  workmen. 

The  construction  company  maintained  an  erection  speed  of  three 
houses  every  two  days  for  each  erection  crew.  The  entire  project  of 
281  houses,  including  streets,  sewers  and  all  utilities,  was  completed  in 
less  than  one  year  with  an  average  crew  of  less  than  200  men,  working 
with  modern  machinery. 

In  this  type  of  work  the  number  of  houses  to  be  erected  within  a 
given  time  resolves  itself  into  an  engineering  schedule,  and  from  the 
experience  gained  at  Youngstown  the  construction  company  feels  con- 
fident that  the  work  may  be  so  organized  that  a  housing  development 
of  500  or  1,000  houses  can  be  scheduled  and  handled  with  greater 
efficiency  than  a  smaller  project. 

Cost. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  cost  of  the  Youngstown  project, 
including  the  construction  company's  fees  on  houses,  streets,  sewers, 
water,  gas  lines  and  general  development: 

Streets,  Sewers, 

Water  &  Gas 

lines  &  general 

Houses  development  Total 

146  houses  in  foreign  colony $513,848.72         $167,060.53         $680,909.25 

135  houses  in  negro  colony 315,899.71  133,284.00  449,183.71 

$829,748.43         $300,344.53      $1,130,092.96 

Foreign  Negro 

Colony  Colony 

Average  cost  of  houses  alone $3,519.51        $2,340.00 

Proportional  cost  per  house,  of  streets,  sewers,  water  &  gas 

lines  and  general  development 1,144.25  987.29 


Total  average  cost  of  houses,  including  improvements $4,663.76        $3,327.29 

Simpson  Craft  Construction 

The  inventor  of  this  system,  John  T.  Simpson  of  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  makes  the  following  statement  as  to  the  objects  sought: 

''To  meet  the  many  objections  to  the  older  and  less  desirable  types 
of  construction  and  at  the  same  time  produce  a  building  constructed 
entirely  of  fire  resisting  materials;  one  that  would  be  economical  in 
maintenance  as  well  as  in  first  cost,  and  from  which  the  question  of 
insurance  could  be  eliminated;  a  building  with  dry  warm  walls  and 
floors;  one  that  may  be  built  of  standardized  sections  of  precast  con- 
crete, adaptable  to  many  styles  of  pleasing  architecture,  without  increas- 
ing the  cost.'* 


14G 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


A  representative  example  of  the  Simpson  Craft  type  of  concrete  houses.     One  of  a  group  at 

Lansford,  Pa. 


Concrete  bungalow  with  stucco  finish  at  Los  Angeles,  Calif.,  built  after  the  Harp  System. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  147 


Architecture. 


The  Simpson  Craft  System  is  so  designed  that  any  one  of  several 
styles  of  architecture  may  be  selected,  the  sections  being  standard  and 
interchangeable  from  one  house  to  another  and  from  one  style  of  archi- 
tecture to  another.  The  sections  may  readily  be  increased  or  decreased 
in  size  and  shape  to  conform  with  conditions  of  loading  or  span  and  all 
sections  may  be  calculated  by  the  usual  formulas  for  concrete  design. 

While  certain  standards  have  been  adopted  such  as  2  feet  8  inches 
for  the  width  of  the  doors  and  windows  and  wall  studs  spaced  3  feet  4 
inches  on  centers,  this  spacing  may  be  varied  at  will,  though  standard 
spacing  will  prove  a  little  lower  in  cost. 

Details. 

The  details  of  window  frames,  whether  of  steel  or  wood,  are  simple 
and  the  attachment  of  all  trim  is  secure.  Stairs,  stair  railings,  chimneys, 
porch  columns,  railings,  porch  roofs,  brackets,  flower  boxes  and  other 
miscellaneous  details  may  be  made  of  concrete  and  if  desired,  the  interior 
of  the  house  may  be  treated  in  the  ordinary  manner. 

Roofs,  Walls,  Partitions  and  Floors. 

The  roof  may  be  built  of  either  precast  concrete  or  wood  timber 
and  covered  with  any  type  of  roofing  desired.  Where  precast  concrete 
is  used  provision  is  made  for  securing  the  roof  covering. 

The  walls,  partitions  and  floors  being  hollow,  placing  of  plumbing 
and  wiring  is  just  as  easy  as  in  buildings  of  wood  construction. 

It  has  been  found  in  practice  that  it  is  an  easy  matter  to  cut  holes 
through  the  beams  and  floor  slabs  for  running  of  wires  or  pipes  or  for 
fittings  to  attach  them. 

Materials  and  Manufacture. 

Any  approved  aggregate  may  be  used  for  the  concrete  which  is 
usually  made  of  1 :2  ;4  mixture  for  the  heavier  sections  and  1  :li  :3  for 
the  lighter  sections.  The  reinforcement  may  be  of  any  standard  type 
of  expanded  metal,  woven  wire  and  plain  or  deformed  bars. 

Wooden  or  steel  moulds  may  be  used,  wood  being  cheaper  for 
small  operations,  though  steel  is  better  for  quantity  operations.  Wooden 
moulds  and  field  forms  average  about  $50  per  house  for  a  group  of  ten 
houses  based  on  average  speed  of  manufacture  and  erection. 

At  the  time  of  casting,  the  finish  of  the  wall  and  floor  slabs  is 
determined  and  the  surfaces  finished  accordingly.  For  wall  work  the 
finished  face  of  the  slabs  may  be  made  on  the  bench,  with  wood  float, 
pebble  dash,  exposed  aggregate,  or  any  other  finish  desired.  The  sur- 
face may  also  be  roughened  or  scratched,  to  form  a  key  for  a  coat  of 
stucco  to  be  applied  after  the  slabs  are  in  place. 

Floor  slabs  may  or  may  not  be  used  when  a  wooden  finished  floor 
is  desired.  In  the  cheaper  grade  of  houses  a  ceiling  slab  only  is  used, 
but  in  the  better  grade  houses  or  where  a  cement  or  plastic  finish  floor- 
ing is  used,  a  floor  slab  is  desirable.    With  cement  finish  floors,  the  slabs 


148  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

are  roughened  or  scratched  on  the  top  surface  during  casting.  For 
wood  finished  floors  on  top  of  slabs,  the  slabs  are  grooved  for  the  wooden 
sleepers  and  wires  built  into  the  grooves  which  are  later  used  to  secure 
the  sleepers  in  the  grooves. 

In  the  earlier  examples  of  Simpson  craft  houses  the  inside  as  well 
as  outside  surface  of  all  walls  and  partitions  was  formed  of  precast 
slabs.  The  walls  of  some  of  these  houses,  notably  those  at  St.  Johns, 
Quebec,  Canada,  had  a  third  slab  in  the  center  of  the  outside  walls  pro- 
viding two  air  spaces. 

The  slabs  are  set  up  between  concrete  channel-shaped  field  forms 
and  after  placing  the  floor  beams  or  rafters  supported  by  them,  the 
studs  are  fleld  cast,  binding  the  structure  together.  The  ceiling  slabs 
are  then  placed  on  the  lower  flange  of  the  beams,  and  the  cross  bars  of 
the  panelling  cast.  The  floor  slabs  are  then  placed  on  top  of  the  floor 
beams. 

Erection 

The  sections  have  been  standardized  so  that  with  the  exception  of 
the  beams  and  rafters  they  can  be  handled  by  two  men.  They  may  be 
made  in  a  shop  or  casting  shed  located  at  any  convenient  point,  either 
at  the  source  of  supply  of  the  raw  materials  or  near  the  site  of  the 
buildings  or  at  an  established  yard  for  the  sale  of  building  materials. 

As  soon  as  the  sections  come  from  the  moulds, — ^usually  twenty-four 
to  forty-eight  hours  after  casting — ^they  are  stacked  in  the  yard  for 
curing  where  they  remain  for  ten  to  thirty  days,  according  to  the  size 
and  shape  of  the  sections.  About  90  per  cent  of  the  parts  of  the  build- 
ing are  precast  light  sections  which  are  later  set  up  on  the  foundations 
and  held  in  place  by  about  10  per  cent  of  field-cast  sections. 

It  has  been  demonstrated  that  a  six-room  house  24  feet  wide  by  28 
feet  deep,  two  stories  high,  can  be  fully  erected  from  top  of  foundation 
walls  to  the  underside  of  the  roof  by  four  carpenters  and  four  laborers 
in  five  days,  which  includes  the  setting  up  of  all  shop-cast  pieces,  secur- 
ing them  in  place  by  the  field  forms  and  pouring  of  all  field-cast  sections. 

The  removal  of  the  forms  and  the  touching  up  of  the  surface  is  not 
included  in  this  time.  This  work  would  require  two  days  for  two  labor- 
ers and  three  days  for  one  cement  finisher  and  one  helper. 

As  a  convenient  means  of  designating  the  four  different  systems  of 
Simpson  Craft  Construction,  they  are  called  Systems  A,  B,  C  and  D. 

System  ''A"  is  a  double  or  triple  wall  construction,  with  precast 
slabs  set  between  the  field  forms  previously  described,  air  spaces  being 
thus  provided.  This  system  requires  no  plastering,  since  the  interior 
surfaces  of  all  walls,  partitions  and  ceilings  are  finished  in  advance 
at  the  time  the  parts  are  cast.  This  system  was  used  on  the  earlier 
work  at  Durham,  N.  J.,  and  St.  Johns,  Quebec,  in  1913  and  1914,  re- 
spectively. 

In  System  ''B"  the  outside  walls  are  made  of  1-inch  precast  slabs 
set  up  between  field  forms,  as  in  System  '*A,"  but  with  the  slabs  omitted 
from  the  partitions,  ceilings  and  inside  face  of  exterior  walls.  Instead, 
galvanized  wire  loops,  or  *'hair  pins,"  are  embedded  in  the  concrete 


ON  CONCRETE  H0U8E   CONSTRUCTION  149 

studs  and  beams  of  the  field-cast  framework.  Heavy  waterproof  build- 
ing paper  is  then  placed  against  the  inside  face  of  the  wall  studs,  against 
both  sides  of  partition  studs  and  against  the  under  side  of  ceiling  beams. 
The  paper  is  well  lapped  and  is  forced  over  the  ''hair  pins."  Metal 
lath  with  f-inch  ribs  is  then  placed  against  the  building  paper  and  is 
secured  in  place  when  the  ends  of  the  *' hair  pins''  are  bent  over.  All 
nailing  strips  and  grounds  for  securing  trim  are  placed  behind  the 
metal  lath  and  fastened  to  it  with  staples.  After  cement  plaster  is 
applied  to  the  metal  lath  the  resulting  construction  consists  of  hollow 
walls,  partitions  and  floors,  with  the  air  space  and  waterproof  paper 
acting  as  insulation  in  exterior  walls  and  as  sound  deadeners  in  floors 
and  partitions. 

In  both  Systems  ''A"  and  *'B"  the  stairs,  railings,  porches,  col- 
umns and  chimneys  are  of  precast  reinforced  concrete  units.  System 
''B"  was  used  in  21  houses  erected  during  the  winter  of  1917-1918  at 
Lansford,  Pa.,  Manheim,  West  Va.,  and  Cementon,  N.  Y. 

In  System  ' '  C  "  the  precast  wall  and  floor  slabs  of  the  two  previous 
systems  are  omitted.  Precast  reinforced  concrete  studs,  beams  and 
rafters  are  set  in  place  on  the  foundations  and  are  bound  together  by  a 
field-cast  girt  or  plate  resting  on  top  of  the  studs  and  made  the  same 
depth  as  the  floor  and  roof  beams.  For  long  spans  intermediate  field- 
cast  columns  and  girts  are  erected.  In  order  to  brace  the  structure 
thoroughly  the  corner  studs  or  posts  are  field-cast  and  strengthened 
with  knee-braces. 

After  the  skeleton  frame  of  field-cast  and  precast  members  has  been 
erected,  the  ceilings,  partitions  and  both  sides  of  exterior  walls  are  cov- 
ered with  waterproof  building  paper,  metal  lath  and  plaster,  precisely 
as  the  ceilings,  partitions  and  the  inside  face  of  exterior  walls  are  built 
under  System  ''B."  Floors  and  roofs  are  formed  by  placing  ribbed 
metal  lath  or  similar  material  on  top  of  the  reinforced  concrete  beams 
and  rafters,  then  placing  the  required  wooden  sleepers  and  nailing 
strips,  after  which  a  light  slab  of  concrete  is  poured. 

Under  System  "C"  a  somewhat  greater  variety  of  construction  is 
possible  than  under  System  '*A"  or  ''B."  This  variety  may  be  secured 
through  variation  in  the  size  and  spacing  of  door  and  window  openings, 
through  the  construction  of  dormers  and  gables,  and  in  other  ways, 
because  of  the  greater  flexibility  of  the  system. 

System  ''D"  is  now  being  used  in  France  and  Belgium  in  the 
reconstruction  of  some  of  the  war-devasted  areas.  In  some  respects 
System  ''D"  is  similar,  to  System  ''C,"  in  that  the  wall  studs  are  pre- 
cast members,  but  with  the  difference  that  in  System  *'D"  the  exterior 
wall  surface  may  be  of  any  of  the  following  material: 

(a)  Pi-ecast  concrete  slabs  on  which  the  desired  finish  has  been 
I  made  on  the  bench  and  which  may  be  set  up  in  courses  simi- 
lar to  stone  ashlar. 

(b)  Thin  limestone  ashlar. 

(c)  Thin  architectural  terra  cotta  slabs. 

(d)  Tile-faced  precast  concrete  slabs. 

(e)  Rough  concrete  slabs,  plastered  with  white  portland  cement 

stucco. 


150 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


SYSTEM-A  "^""^ms^^  SYSTEM-B 

Simpson  Craft  Concrete  Construction,  Systems  A  and  B. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOVUE   CONSTRUCTION 


151 


SYSTEM-C 
Simpson  Craft  Concrete  Construction,  Systems  C  and  D. 


SYSTEM-D 


152 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Interior   view  of   a   Simpson   Craft   house   under   construction   at   Lansford,   Pa. 

(f)  A  thin  precast  concrete  slab  to  which  nailing  strips  are  at- 
tached similar  to  floor  sleepers  and  to  which  wooden  shingles 
and  clapboards  may  be  nailed. 

In  the  lower  priced  houses  bnilt  after  System  ''D,"  the  floor  beams 
and  rafters  are  spaced  40  inches  apart  and  the  floor  and  roof  slabs  are 
omitted.  Ceiling  slabs  are  provided  either  flush  with  the  bottom  of  floor 
beams  if  a  plain  ceiling  is  desired,  or  raised  up  between  beams  if  a 
beamed  ceiling  is  preferred.  Nailing  blocks  are  placed  in  the  floor 
beams  if  they  are  to  be  encased  in  wood.  For  the  partitions  and  the 
inside  face  of  exterior  walls  special  slabs  of  cinder  concrete  or  gypsum 
are  cast  on  sheets  of  waterproof  building  paper  and  set  up  with  the 
paper  side  against  the  studs. 

In  the  French  and  Belgian  work  the  finished  roof  is  formed  of 
precast  reinforced  concrete  slabs  40  inches  wide  and  varying  from 
6  to  8  feet  long,  usually  colored  red.  These  slabs,  or  large  tiles,  are 
self -locking  and  are  secured  by  grout  to  the  concrete  rafters.  The  ridge 
has  a  separate  capping  piece,  while  the  gutters  are  cast  as  an  integral 
part  of  the  lower  course  of  slabs. 

The  usual  wooden  window  and  door  frames  are  omitted  from  the 
French  work,  because  of  the  aversion  to  wood  construction  in  France. 
Door  and  window  hinges  are  embedded  in  the  concrete  when  the  slabs 
are  cast.  Winding  stairs,  ornamental  chimney  tops,  window  balconies 
and  other  decorative  features  are  all  made  of  precast  concrete  and  set  in 
place. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  153 

The  first  of  the  French  buildings  are  under  construction  at  Sois- 
sons.  These  are  four-family  structures,  each  family  being  provided 
with  a  general  living  room,  two  bedrooms,  two  clothes  closets,  a  kitchen- 
ette, a  food  closet,  a  coat  closet  and  a  toilet.  Two  families  are  quartered 
on  each  floor.  Those  on  the  upper  floor  have  separate  stairways  and  all 
have  separate  entrances,  for  the  common  entrance  of  the  American 
apartment  building  is  not  popular  with  the  French  housewife.  Seven- 
story  apartments  of  four,  five  and  six  rooms  each,  have  been  designed 
after  this  system  for  construction  at  Soissons. 

In  all  of  the  foregoing  systems,  designated  as  Systems  A,  B,  C  and 
D,  it  is  possible  to  manufacture  the  precast  sections  in  a  centrally  located 
shop  during  the  winter,  from  where  they  may  be  distributed  later  as 
needed.  It  is  entirely  feasible  to  standardize  many  parts  and  carry 
them  in  stock,  in  the  same  manner  as  lumber  and  other  building  ma- 
terials. 

Under  ordinary  conditions  it  is  possible  for  a  moderate-sized  force 
of  men  to  set  up  the  entire  frame  of  a  Simpson  Craft  house,  including 
the  roof,  in  from  four  to  six  days  after  the  foundation  is  ready.  The 
roughing  for  the  plumbing,  heating  and  lighting  systems  may  be  put 
in  immediately  after  the  frame  is  up,  while  the  walls  and  ceilings  can 
be  lathed  and  plastered  without  waiting  for  the  removal  of  forms. 

All  the  Simpson  Craft  houses  constructed  to  date  have  been  built 
by  contractors  who  had  no  special  training  in  concrete  work. 

The  first  house  erected,  that  at  New  Durham,  N.  J.,  in  1913,  cost 
$4,000,  including  brick  fireplace,  steam  heating  system,  white  enameled 
plumbing,  electric  lighting  in  metal  conduits,  slate  roof  and  copper 
gutters  and  flashing. 

The  ten  houses  at  Lansford,  Pa.,  built  in  the  winter  of  1917-1918, 
were  taken  on  a  lump  sum  contract  at  $3,000  each,  this  price  including 
steam  heating,  electric  lighting,  white  enameled  plumbing,  asphalt 
shingle  roof,  wood  finished  floors  on  the  first  floor  and  cement  finish  on 
the  second  floor. 

Committee  on  Unit  Constbucted  Houses 

W.  W.  Boyd,  Jr,  Chairman,  St.  Louis 

A.  C.  Irwin,  Secretary,  Chicago 

S.  B.  Moore,  Houston,  Tex. 

E.  J.  Russell,  St.  Louis 

John  T.  Simpson,  Newark,  N.  J. 

K.  H.  Talbot,  Milwaukee 


154  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


INSULATION  OF  CONCRETE  WALLS 

Nolan     D.  Mitchell 
^     Structural  Engineer,  Supervisins:  Architect's  Office 
U.  S.  Treasury  Department,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Since  the  dawn  of  civilization  man  has  made  houses  to  protect  fam- 
ily and  chattels  from  the  weather  and  depreciation.  With  succeeding 
generations  better  and  better  protection  has  been  afforded. 

In  view  of  the  many  improvements  that  are  being  made  in  all  our 
arts  we  can  readily  imagine  great  forward  strides  in  house  building  in 
the  near  future.  Certainly  some  forward  movement  is  needed  when  the 
loss  by  fire  is  now  approximately  $300,000,000  in  money  and  hundreds 
of  lives  each  year.  And  to  this  must  be  added  the  upkeep  cost  of  our 
large  standing  army  of  insurance  and  fire  protection  forces.  The  fire- 
fighter comes  after  the  fire  starts  to  limit  it  to  as  small  space  as  possible 
and  the  insurance  man  comes  later  to  distribute  a  part  of  the  money 
loss  to  the  more  fortunate,  taking  no  inconsiderable  amount  in 
fees  for  his  services. 

Another  phase  of  the  situation  is  the  growing  scarcity  of  fuels. 
We  have  been,  and  are  still,  very  prodigal  of  them.  Now  is  the  time  to 
consider  in  an  economic  way  what  we  can  do  to  conserve  our  supply. 
If  we  can  make  houses  that  do  not  require  so  much  fuel  for  heating  we 
should  at  least  investigate  their  possibilities. 

One  cannot  deny  that  our  better  constructed  wooden  houses  have 
been  comfortable  and,  except  against  fire,  have  afforded  reasonable  pro- 
tection at  a  low  first  cost.  While  our  lumber  resources  are  by  no  means 
exhausted,  it  is  becoming  more  and  more  uneconomical  to  build  wooden 
houses.  In  making  the  change  from  the  wooden  house  to  types  of 
more  permanent  construction  we  must  select  some  kind  that  will  pro- 
vide as  much  or  more  comfort  for  the  occupants.  Americans  will  accept 
no  less. 

The  unfortunate  thing  that  we  realize  at  once  is  that  our  common 
fire  resisting  materials  of  construction  have  a  high  rate  of  heat  con- 
ductivity as  compared  to  the  more  combustible  kinds.  The  cold  walls 
resulting  from  the  use  of  these  has  had  no  small  influence  in  retarding 
the  change  from  the  wooden  house. 

The  maintenance  of  an  even  temperature  in  a  house  resolves  itself 
into  provision  of  adequate  heating  apparatus  and  a  construction  that  will 
satisfactorily  prevent  rapid  dissipation  of  heat  through  floors,  walls 
and  ceilings.  It  is  just  another  phase  of  the  problem  that  refrigerating 
engineers  have  found  to  be  of  such  importance  in  their  work,  namely, 
insulation. 

There  is  plenty  of  evidence  that  many  builders  realize  the  neces- 
sity of  insulation  against  heat  transference,  but  we  are  not  so  sure  that 
an  altogether  satisfactory  solution  has  been  found. 

Let  us  look  briefly  into  what  has  been  done  and  the  results.  Wood 
furring  with  lath  and  plaster  on  the  inside  was  probably  the  first  effort 
to  avoid  penetration  of  dampness  and  the  condensation  of  moisture  on 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  155 

the  inside  of  the  wall.  The  result  as  far  as  insulating  against  the  heat 
loss  through  an  eight  inch  wall  was  an  improvement  of  approximately 
15%.  Where  the  wall  block  absorbed  dampness  from  the  weather  the 
result  was  not  so  good  for  in  general  any  porous  material  in  moist  or 
damp  condition  transmits  heat  much  more  readily. 

The  hollow  block  was  another  development  in  the  right  direction. 
The  total  result  was  probably  not  so  very  different  from  the  wood  fur- 
ring except  that  it  provided  no  lodgement  for  vermin  and  no  runway 
for  fire.  The  chances  for  dampness  showing  on  the  plaster  were  much 
higher  however,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  passage  of  dampness  through 
the  withes  of  hollow  blocks  is  responsible  for  a  large  part  of  the  long 
fight  that  advocates  of  concrete  house  construction  have  had  to  make  to 
keep  in  the  business. 

Other  builders  realizing  that  dampness  cannot  travel  by  capillary 
action  across  a  space  bridged  only  by  thin  metal  ties  adopted  that  sys- 
tem and  at  the  same  time  realized  an  improvement  of  about  20%  over  an 
8-inch  solid  plastered  wall.  Hollow  monolithic  walls  give  about  the 
same  or  perhaps  a  little  better  protection.  The  matter  of  detail  of  con- 
struction of  the  hollow  wall  is  apparently  more  troublesome,  yet  with 
some  builders  they  are  still  favorites. 

A  system,  not  so  much  in  vogue,  has  been  the  building  of  solid 
walls  of  lean  cinder  concrete  facing  it  with  stucco  on  the  exterior  and 
plastering  the  inner  face,  or  where  the  temperatures  justify  it,  furring 
has  been  applied. 

Another  use  of  cinder  concrete  has  been  in  making  furring  blocks  to 
face  the  inside  of  the  walls.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  any  data  on 
the  relative  merit  of  these.  One  recent  system  embeds  the  porous  block 
in  the  center  of  a  monolithic  wall  so  that  the  inner  shell  may  serve  as 
the  supporting  wall  for  floors  and  ceilings  and  thereby  not  break  the 
continuity  of  the  insulating  course. 

Other  developments  such  as  multiple  cell  blocks  with  offset  withes, 
various  forms  of  opening  to  allow  freer  circulation,  etc.,  have  been  im- 
provements in  both  insulating  value  and  saving  of  materials. 

A  very  popular  building  block  is  one  made  solid  with  projections 
on  the  rear  face  to  bond  with  like  projections  on  the  blocks  laid  up  to 
form  the  opposite  face  of  the  wall.  This  gives  a  good  bond  and  is  a 
simple  arrangement  easily  cast  allowing  a  wetter  mix  than  that  generally 
used  in  block  construction. 

All  these  efforts  have  made  an  appreciable  improvement  over  the 
solid  wall  type,  but  generally  the  air  spaces  provided  have  been  un- 
necessarily large  and  allow  convection  currents  within  the  closed  space. 

A  comparison  of  the  results  obtained  by  some  of  the  above  with  the 
results  of  refrigeration  insulating  has  led  to  investigation  in  a  general 
way  as  to  what  might  be  done  by  using  concrete  as  the  structural  member 
of  the  wall  and  combining  with  it  an  efficient  insulating  material. 

As  a  basis  a  monolithic  concrete  wall  4  inches  thick  with  1  inch  of 
corkboard  insulation  has  been  considered.  It  is  not  the  intention  to 
say  that  either  the  4-inch  concrete  or  the  1-inch  corkboard  is  an  ideal. 
In  actual  practice  the  thinnest  concrete  that  will  give  adequate  service 


156  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

and  any  insulating  materials  of  the  requisite  qualities  for  the  work 
should  be  used.  There  are  many  insulating  materials  on  the  market 
and  if  a  demand  is  created  for  still  different  ones  we  may  be  sure  that 
some  resourceful  manufacturer  will  soon  be  able  to  meet  it. 

There  is  no  perfect  insulating  material.  Of  the  more  common  ones 
the  heat  transmission  factor  varies  very  closely  in  proportion  to  the 
density  of  the  structure.  The  cellular  ones  such  as  wood,  pith,  cork, 
wool,  etc.,  are  best  for  house  insulation.  Any  of  these  materials  must 
be  kept  dry  to  give  the  best  service. 

The  following  table  from  ^'Mechanical  Refrigeration"  by  Prof. 
Macintire  of  the  University  of  Washington,  gives  the  heat  conductivity 
of  some  of  our  common  building  materials.  The  table  indicates  heat 
conductivity  per  square  foot  per  inch  thickness  per  degree  difference  in 
temperature  per  hour. 

1"  Common  brick 4.66 

1"  Concrete   (1 :3 :5)    4.29 

V  to   4"   Hollow   tile    0.625 

I''  Lumber  (tongued  and  grooved)   0.83 

Air  space  (from  1"  to  6"  thick)  ,   1.66 

V  mineral  wool 0.67 

1"  builders  paper ' 0.30 

1"  pitch    0.79 

1"  shavings  (dry)    0.67 

1"  granulated  cork  0.48 

1"  cork  board  (all  cork,  compressed) 0.26 

1"  cork  board  (artificial  binder)    0.28 

V  hair  felt  0.31 

1"  indurated  fibre  board 0.42 

1"  compressed  mineral  wool  board 0.33 

For  thicknesses  of  insulating  materials  up  to  8  inches  the  conduc- 
tivity is  in  almost  inverse  proportion  to  thickness.  The  effect  of  change 
of  temperature  on  conductivity  is  very  slight  through  the  range  of  tem- 
peratures required  in  house  heating. 

As  a  comparison  of  the  4-inch  insulated  wall  with  the  two  usual 
types  of  furred  concrete  walls  the  following  is  submitted  from  Heat 
Transmission  Tables  compiled  by  Wm.  R.  Jones  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania.     The  heat  transmission  factors  are: 

(1)  8  inch  solid  concrete  wall  with  2"  terra  cotta  or  wood  furring 

and  plaster  53 

(2)  8  inch  hollow  concrete  wall  (two  4"  thicknesses  of  concrete) 

center  air  space  and  furring  as  above 38 

From  Peclets  formula  the  transmission  factor  of — 

(3)  4  inch  concrete  wall  with  1  inch  cork  board 18 

Assuming  that  we  have  a  house  26  by  26  feet  in  plan,  two  stories 

high  with  1,450  sq.  ft.  net  wall  area,  an  average  difference  in  tempera- 
ture of  35%  for  20  hours  per  day  would  show  the  following  amounts  of 
coal  burned  to  make  up  for  heat  losses: 

(1)  53.65  pounds  per  day. 

(2)  38.57  pounds  per  day. 

(3)  18.27  pounds  per  day. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  157 

Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  thin  insulated  wall  would  show  a  saving 
over  the  other  types  of  35.38  and  20.30  pounds  of  coal  per  day  re- 
spectively. 

Assuming  that  the  conditions  as  above  continue  for  an  average  of 
150  days  each  winter  and  that  coal  will  cost  $12  per  long  ton  the 
savings  capitalized  at  6%  for  a  30  year  period  would  justify  expendi- 
tures of  $400  and  $228  respectively  for  the  insulated  wall  over  the  other 
types.  Or  to  come  back  to  the  square  foot  unit,  27J  cents  and  15.7  cents 
respectively. 

The  saving  of  materials  in  the  thin  wall  and  the  space  saved  by 
using  them  can  be  computed  readily.  If  the  same  outside  dimensions  are 
maintained  in  the  house  the  floor  space  for  the  thin  wall  type  would  be 
approximately  11%  more  than  with  the  usual  types. 

The  matter  of  increased  comfort  to  tenant  has  not  been  given  a 
money  value,  but  it  would  be  safe  to  assume  that  from  a  commercial 
standpoint,  this  would  be  far  more  than  any  of  the  preceding.  Once 
a  builder  has  established  a  reputation  for  making  a  safe,  satisfactory, 
comfortable  house,  economical  in  maintenance,  he  can  be  assured  that  his 
services  will  be  in  constant  demand  and  his  profits  can  be  larger  as  a 
consequence. 

Considerable  progress  was  made  in  Europe  before  the  war  in  insu- 
lating dwelling  houses  and  in  this  country  a  number  of  houses  had 
been  built  using  different  types  of  the  better  insulating  materials. 

There  are  a  number  of  insulating  boards  on  the  market  now,  sev- 
eral of  which  could  be  adapted  to  use  in  dwellings  but  for  general  excel- 
lence and  suitability,  when  the  cost  of  installation  and  insulating  service 
rendered  are  considered  the  cork  board  will  rank  near  if  not  at  the  top 
of  the  list. 

The  objection  of  expense  may  be  raised  at  once  but  that  cannot 
be  so  very  much,  if  any,  above  our  usual  types  of  construction.  Cork 
boards  are  selling  at  this  time  (February  19,  1920),  for  approximately 
13J  cents  per  board  foot  in  quantities.  When  it  is  considered  that  it 
replaces  at  once  the  inside  furring  at  least  half  the  cost  of  the  material 
is  offset.  In  the  example  given  above  the  concrete  saved  would  offset 
the  other  half  of  first  cost. 


158 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Entrance  to  vestibule  in  private  residence,  Washington,  D.  C.  An  excellent  example  of  the 
adaptability  of  exposed  aggregate  stucco  and  precast  concrete  of  the  same  color  and 
texture  to   exacting  ornamental  requirements. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  159 


NEW  DEVELOPMENTS  IN  SURFACE-TREATED 
CONCRETE  AND  STUCCO 

By  J.  C.  Pearson,  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards,  Washington,  D.  C, 
AND  J.  J.  Earley,  Sculptor,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  joint  authorship  of  this  paper  requires  a  word  of  explanation. 
The  writers  have  been  closely  associated  by  their  membership  on  the 
Advisory  Committee  of  the  Bureau  of  Standards  Stucco  Investigation, 
and  on  the  Committee  on  Treatment  of  Concrete  Surfaces  of  this  Insti- 
tute. Both  residing  in  Washington,  they  have  had  an  unusual  oppor- 
tunity to  study  and  discuss  with  each  other  the  results  obtained  from 
the  experimental  work  of  the  Bureau  in  concrete  and  stucco,  as  well 
as  those  from  Mr.  Barley's  work  in  connection  with  his  contracting 
business.  These  discussions  often  led  to  the  consideration  of  possibili- 
ties somewhat  beyond  the  range  of  established  practice,  in  fact,  beyond 
the  limitations  of  established  theories  relating  to  the  gradation  and 
proportioning  of  the  ingredients  of  mortar  and  concrete.  It  was  there- 
fore natural  that  ideas  were  conceived  which  were  too  visionary  to  be 
of  use  to  any  committee,  but  nevertheless  deemed  worthy  of  further 
investigation  on  the  writer's  own  account.  If  these  ideas  proved 
to  have  no  value,  no  one  would  be  the  loser ;  if  they  did  amount  to  any- 
thing, the  results  would  be  a  contribution  to  our  knowledge  of  stucco 
and  concrete.  Hence  it  is  a  matter  of  some  gratification  to  the  authors 
to  be  able  to  describe  these  new  developments  in  the  treatment  of  con- 
crete surfaces,  the  success  of  which  is  due  largely  to  scientific  studies  of 
the  behavior  of  combinations  of  various  sized  particles,  and  the  develop- 
ment of  a  technique  adequate  for  the  molding  of  these  combinations  of 
particles  in  any  desired  form  and  place. 

Studies  of  the  experimental  stucco  panels  at  the  Bureau  of  Stand- 
ards led  to  the  general  conclusion  that  by  adherence  to  well  established 
practice,  structurally  sound  and  durable  stucco  could  be  secured,  but 
that  a  great  deal  could  be,  or  ought  to  be,  done  to  improve  its  appear- 
ance. Crazing  and  map  cracking  are  common  to  most  stuccos,  and  are 
especially  objectionable  on  surfaces  of  fine  texture.  The  monotony  of 
the  cold  grey  cement  color  is  objectionable,  and  is  only  partially  relieved 
by  the  used  of  white  cement  and  mortar  colors.  Finally  the  muddy  ap- 
pearance (due  to  cement,  or  cement  and  pigment,  being  too  much  in 
evidence)  is  objectionable  from  an  artistic  standpoint.  Consideration 
of  these  matters  suggested  at  once  the  use  of  less  cement,  and  it  became 
evident  that  by  efforts  in  this  direction  improvement  in  appearance 
might  be  obtained.  The  apparently  insurmountable  obstacle  to  this 
departure  from  usual  practice  was,  of  course,  the  lack  of  plasticity  in 
the  leaner  mixtures.  Various  methods  of  overcoming  this  difficulty  were 
considered,  and  some  experiments  were  made  which  indicated  that  a  real 
improvement  might  be  obtained  by  substituting  fine  inert  material  for 
a  portion  of  the  cement.  The  easiest  way  to  accomplish  this  result 
seemed  to  be  by  using  blended  cements,  that  is,  normal  cements  ground 
with  a  certain  percentage  of  sand,  stone-screenings,  or  other  suitable 
materials.     These  experiments  were  never  carried  very  far,   however. 


160 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Vestibule,  private  residence,  Washington,  D.  C.  Console  and  cluster  of  fruit  are  of  precast 
concrete;  the  remainder,  including  the  mouldings,  is  of  exposed  aggregate,  portland  cement 
stucco. 


for  it  did  not  seem  possible  that  any  method  which  might  be  devised 
for  retaining  plasticity  could  bring  about  the  desired  result,  namely, 
the  elimination  of  all  the  objectionable  features  mentioned  above. 

Serious  as  was  this  lack  of  plasticity  in  the  lean  stucco  mixtures,  it 
was  after  all,  something  that  could  be  overcome  by  work.  This  was  dem- 
onstrated by  the  fact  that  mixtures  as  lean  as  one  part  cement  to  six 
parts  of  stone  screenings  were  applied  on  some  of  the  Bureau  of  Stand- 
ards panels,  with  excellent  results.  But  the  improvement  in  these  panels 
as  compared  with  some, of  the  easier  working  combinations  did  not  seem 
great  enough  to  justify  the  increased  cost  of  application.  The  question 
finally  arose  whether  by  careful  attention  to  gradation  of  the  aggre- 
gates this  improvement  in  appearance  might  not  be  so  enhanced  that  the 
cost  would  be  a  secondary  consideration. 

This  idea  came  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Earley  had  succeeded  in 
making  complicated  casts  of  concrete  from  specially  graded  aggregates 
m  such  manner  that  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  area  of  the  treated 
surface  (first  wire  brushed  and  then  washed)  was  aggregate,  and  a  very 
small  percentage  cement.  Possibly  due  in  part  to  the  higher  reflecting 
power  of  the  surfaces  of  the  exposed  aggregates,  the  color  of  the  con- 
crete surfaces  thus  produced  was  determined  almost  wholly  by  the  color 
of  the  aggregates,  and  only  very  slightly  affected  by  the  cement  itself. 
A  most  convincing  demonstration  of  this  fact  was  obtained  by  construct- 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


161 


ing  two  concrete  slabs  containing  exactly  the  same  proportions  of  spe- 
cially graded  aggregate,  the  one  being  mixed  with  gvey  cement,  the  other 
with  w^hite  cement.  After  the  surface  treatment  of  brUwshing  and  wash- 
ing had  been  applied,  only  an  expert  could  have  determined  which  slab 
contained  the  grey  cement  and  which  the  white. 

To  digress  still  further  for  a  moment,  this  method  of  obtaining  per- 
manent and  very  pleasing  colors  in  concrete  surfaces  is  such  an  impor- 
tant item  in  the  development  of  the  processes  here  described,  that  it  is 
worthy  of  fuller  explanation.  Before  color  in  concrete  surfaces  can  be 
under  artistic  control,  a  technique  must  be  developed  which  has  for  its 
medium  the  elements  of  the  concrete  itself.  Although  in  problems  in- 
volving appearance  aggregate  is  by  reason  of  its  greater  bulk  the  major 
element,  and  cement  the  minor,  it  is,  nevertheless  the  color  of  the  cement 
which  is  the  natural  color  of  normal  concrete.  The  reason  for  this  is 
that  the  cement  is  finely  ground  and  deposits  itself,  paint-like  over  the 
surfaces  of  the  aggregates  and  colors  the  whole  mass.  If,  therefore, 
concrete  is  to  receive  its  color  from  the  cement  paste,  variation  must  be 
obtained  by  the  addition  of  pigments  to  the  cement  following  the  well 
established  practice  of  mixing  paints;  but  if  the  aggregate  is  to  be  the 
source  of  color,  the  concrete  must  be  so  designed  and  manipulated  as  to 
deposit  in  the  greatest  possible  amount  of  aggregate.    Any  great  degree 


Detail    of    Sixteenth    Street    entrance    to    Meridian    Hill    Park,    Washington,    D.    C.      Massive 
construction  in  which  ornamental  detail  is  well  executed  in  concrete.     Three  textures  are 
shown:  fine  on  the  reveal  of  the  arch  (left),  medium  on  the  panel  of  the  wing  wall  (right) 
and   coarse  on   the   rusticated   blocks   (center).     The   blocks  are   precast,   the  wing  wall   is 
monolithic,  cast  in  place.     The  color  is  uniform  throughout.  v 


162 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Detail  of  secondary  porch,  Potomac  Park  field  house,  Washington,  D.  C.  Cornice,  columns 
and  balustrade  are  of  precast  concrete,  base  is  monolithic  concrete  cast  in  place,  and 
walls  of  Portland  cement  stucco  on  tile.     All  surfaces  have  the  same  color  and  texture. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  163 

of  success  can  hardly  be  expected  in  coloring  concrete  through  the 
cement.  The  choice  of  colors  is  restricted  by  chemical  reaction  with  the 
cement  which  causes  them  to  fade  or  change ;  depth  of  color  is  restricted 
by  strength  requirements  of  the  concrete,  which  limits  very  closely  the 
amount  of  pigment  which  may  be  added  to  the  cement.  Therefore  with 
the  choice  of  color  limited  by  one  requirement  and  the  depth  of  color  by 
another,  the  cement  itself  must  remain  dominant.  On  the  other  hand, 
in  coloring  concrete  through  the  aggregate  all  such  restrictions  are 
removed,  and  colors  may  be  obtained  from  white  to  black,  through  all 
the  range  of  possible  aggregates.  An  examination  of  drawings  done  in 
hard  pastelles  and  of  paintings  of  the  impressionist  school  suggests  a 
technique  in  coloring  which  is  peculiarly  adaptable  to  the  coloring  of 
concrete  by  means  of  the  aggregate.  In  the  pastelles,  tones  are  produced 
by  hatching  and  cross-hatching  with  lines  of  pure  color  without  blend- 
ing on  the  surface  of  the  drawing ;  in  the  paintings,  by  spotting  with  pure 
colors  one  beside  the  other  and  without  blending.  In  both  cases  the  tones 
are  effected  by  the  blending  of  the  light  rays  reflected  from  the  picture 
to  the  observer.  Wonderful  depth  and  clarity  of  tone  are  character- 
istics of  this  school  of  coloring,  and  in  it  are  to  be  found  a  great  deal  of 
exact  knowledge  and  valuable  precedent.  When  this  knowledge  is  trans- 
lated in  terms  of  concrete  aggregates,  it  is  obvious  that  if  the  aggre- 
gates are  carefully  selected  and  carefuUy  placed,  all  the  elements  are 
present  for  the  successful  coloring  of  concrete  surfaces.  The  results 
obtained  in  practice  bear  out  the  theory  given  above,  and  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  the  aggregate  is  the  proper  source  of  color  for 
concrete. 

Hence  it  was  a  most  important  conception  that  a  similar  result 
might  be  obtained  with  stucco.  The  success  of  this  depended,  first,  upon 
securing  a  suitable  gradation  of  the  stucco  aggregate,  and  second,  upon 
being  able  to  apply  such  a  mixture,  once  it  were  satisfactorily  com- 
pounded. It  was  known  at  the  outset  that  these  mixtures  would  be 
harsh,  therefore  plasticity  no  longer  played  any  part  in  the  calcula- 
tions. 

The  laboratory  program  was  fairly  simple.  The  plan  consisted 
simply  in  working  first  with  concrete  mixes  in  miniature,  in  which  the 
sizes  of  cement  particles,  sand  particles  and  coarse  aggregate  particles 
were  reduced  from  the  normal  sizes  in  the  ratio  of  about  1 :10,  this  being 
taken  as  the  approximate  ratio  of  the  size  of  particles  passing  a  No.  8 
sieve  to  pebbles  one  inch  in  diameter.  It  was  assumed  that  the  density 
of  such  mixes  would  depend  mainly  on  relative  sizes  of  the  component 
particles,  with  due  allowance  for  the  water  content.  If  these  mixes 
appeared  to  be  satisfactory  for  the  purpose,  it  was  assumed  that  any 
reduction  within  the  1 :10  ratio  would  also  be  satisfactory,  and  the 
actual  reduction  to  be  employed  in  compounding  any  given  stucco 
mixture  of  this  type  would  be  as  slight  as  the  requirements  of  texture 
and  the  difficulties  of  application  would  permit.  These  experiments  in 
the  laboratory  with  the  miniature  concretes  were  very  successful.  Not 
the  least  important  part  of  the  laboratoiy  work  was  the  microscopic 
examination  of  the  structures  of  these  little  concretes,  which  yielded 
many  valuable  suggestions  for  the  gradation  in  size  of  particles,  and  for 
the  proper  proportions  of  the  various  sizes,  to  yield  the  desired  effects 
in  the  treated  surfaces. 


164 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


South  portico  of  the  field  house,  East  Potomac  Park,  Washington,  D.  C.  The  portico  is  of 
precast  concrete  and  the  building  of  Portland  cement  stucco  on  tile.  Both  concrete  and 
stucco  are  of  the  exposed  aggregate  type  and  are  of  the  same  color  and  texture. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  165 

The  first  attempt  to  apply  the  new  product  to  a  vertical  wall  was 
not  wholly  discouraging.  Small  areas  were  treated  successfully,  and 
eventually  a  portion  of  one  of  the  new  laboratories  of  the  Bureau  of 
Standards  was  coated  with  the  exposed  aggregate  stucco.  This  example 
while  it  is  not  as  free  from  imperfections  as  the  more  recent  work,  has 
attracted  most  favorable  notice.  Fortunately,  the  mechanics  who  were 
selected  for  this  work  developed  a  real  interest  in  the  new  type  of 
finish,  and  subsequently  a  pride  in  the  results  of  their  work,  which  made 
for  very  rapid  progress  in  the  development  of  the  methods  of  applica- 
tion and  treatment.  New  requirements  in  thoroughness  of  mixing,  con- 
sistency, and  control  of  the  absorption  of  the  undercoats  were  met,  and 
other  improvements  in  the  general  process  were  gradually  introduced  as 
essential  parts  of  the  routine.  Not  all  of  the  problems  have  been  solved, 
but  there  has  been  very  gratifying  progress  in  the  comparatively  short 
time  that  the  new  stucco  has  been  applied  commercially. 

The  writers  believe  that  the  work  here  described  shows  progress  in 
the  development  of  concrete  and  stucco  as  materials  worthy  of  a  place 
in  the  highest  type  of  buildings  or  structures.  It  is  to  be  noted  espe- 
cially that  none  of  this  work  is  an  imitation  of  stone.  Close  inspection 
shows  at  a  glance  that  it  is  concrete,  with  textures  that  vary  widely,  but 
always  characteristic  of  concrete.  Furthermore,  the  material  may  be 
cast  in  any  form  the  architect  may  desire,  with  all  details  complete ;  no 
cutting,  tooling  or  dressing  is  required  other  than  the  prescribed  treat- 
ment of  cleanly  exposing  the  aggregate.  Finally  the  material  provides 
a  medium  for  the  expression  of  color  in  infinitely  greater  variety  than 
that  which  obtains  in  the  natural  building  stones. 

In  conclusion  the  writers  would  add  a  word  about  stucco.  The  new 
type  of  exposed  aggregate  finish  cannot  fail  to  arouse  new  interest  in 
stucco,  as  a  product,  regardless  of  the  nature  and  treatment  of  the  finish- 
ing coat.  The  product  should  be  more  widely  used,  and,  the  reason  it  is 
not  more  widely  used  is  that  it  has  too  often  been  applied  by  contractors 
or  mechanics  who  consider  it  only  as  an  outside  plaster.  This  paper 
has  attempted  to  convey  the  impression  that  cement  stucco  is  more  like 
concrete  than  plaster,  and  that  plasticity  is  not  essential.  The  point  the 
writers  wish  to  emphasize  is  that  the  art  of  applying  durable  stucco  is 
very  different  from  the  art  of  plastering,  and  in  their  opinion,  stucco 
will  take  the  place  it  deserves  among  building  products  only  when  this 
fact  is  generally  recognized. 

REMARKS. 

Emiuc  G.  Perrot  :  I  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Earley  how  he  runs  on 
the  moldings  and  secures  the  texture  that  was  shown  in  the  slides  he 
exhibited.  Also  how  do  they  secure  the  aggregate  surface  on  the  precast 
columns  ? 

J.  J.  Earley:  The  same  general  mixture  and  type  of  concrete 
exists  in  the  core  of  the  column  as  on  the  face.  The  only  difference  is 
the  color  value  which  the  facing  material  has.  Concrete  for  exterior 
and  interior  was  placed  at  the  same  time.  The  thickness  of  the  outside 
layer  is  about  3  inches.    The  moldings  were  applied  as  stucco. 

To  secure  the  color  effect  of  the  aggregate,  forms  were  removed 


166  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

from  concrete  when  it  had  hardened  sufficiently  to  hold  aggregate  par- 
ticles in  place  but  not  sufficiently  to  prevent  the  coating  of  cement  from 
being  removed  from  their  surface.  In  order  to  expose  the  surfaces, 
brushing  and  washing  was  done  by  using  a  diluted  solution  of  muriatic 
acid.  All  of  this  work  was  done  to  architectural  detail.  There  was  no 
restriction  to  the  detail  because  of  the  material  used.  Form  and  texture 
were  predetermined.  Therefore,  such  success  as  we  had  was  a  measure 
of  the  control  possible  over  the  material. 

Some  of  the  slides  exhibited  showed  the  yellow  gravel,  native  to 
the  vicinity  of  Washington.  There  is  quite  a  range  of  color  in  this 
yellow,  bordering  from  yellow  ochre  up  to  raw  sienna.  Combinations, 
of  course,  can  be  made  from  these  deposits.  We  also  heighten  or  thin, 
if  it  can  be  so  expressed,  the  tone  by  the  introduction  of  color  spots.  For 
example,  the  yellow  gravel  can  be  warmed  in  color  by  adding  brown  or 
red  spots  of  suitable  size  and  number.  Likewise  the  yellow  tone  may 
be  reduced  by  the  introduction  of  green  or  blue  spots.  From  a  distance 
these  are  hardly  discernible,  but  they  have  a  very  marked  effect  upon 
the  tone  in  general.  Two  samples  set  side  by  side  are  quite  different. 
We  also  use  marble,  feldspar  and  crushed  granite. 

The  stucco  mixture  was  prepared  as  ordinarily  and  then  applied 
with  a  steel  trowel,  and  the  aggregates  trowelled  in  by  using  the  steel 
trowel  as  a  float.  We  use  both  washing  with  water  and  w^ashing  with 
acid  solution  to  obtain  the  required  exposure  of  aggregate,  depending 
upon  the  length  of  time  the  concrete  has  been  hardening. 


OJV   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  167 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  PLASTERED 
AND  GUNITE  HOUSES 

Among  the  many  plans  devised  by  engineers  and  constructors,  stim- 
ulated to  unusual  activity  by  the  demand  for  more  and  for  better  houses, 
there  are  a  number  which,  departing  from  the  conventional,  and  differ- 
ing in  detail,  have  certain  fundamental  ideas  in  common.  These  com- 
mon ideas,  in  accordance  with  which  this  Committee  has  been  asked  to 
gather  this  group  of  designs,  appear  to  be  briefly : 

First :  Insulation  against  heat  conductivity  by  the  use  of  dead  air 
spaces  of  greater  or  lesser  extent,  but  positively  isolated  and  non-com- 
municating. 

Second :  Fulfillment  of  structural  requirements  to  produce  strength, 
firesafeness  and  permanence. 

Third :  The  development  of  such  methods  as  will  allow  versatility 
in  design,  both  as  to  size  and  architectural  treatment. 

In  working  out  the  details  of  construction  to  meet  these  fundamental 
propositions,  the  designer  has  had  wide  latitude,  and  his  tendency  as 
influenced  by  his  daily  vocation  is  clearly  shown  in  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  approached  the  proposition.  One  is  accustomed  to  building 
structures  with  Cement  Guns,  another  is  familiar  with  plaster  contract 
work,  another  is  an  architect  and  another  is  a  structural  engineer.  Each 
applies  technical  skill  and  practical  experience  in  his  own  way  to  the 
solution  of  the  common  problem,  vnth  results  that  are  interesting  and 
valuable;  but  the  knowledge  and  skill  of  all  these  has  been  utilized  in 
the  development  of  the  plastered  or  ''gunite"  type  of  house  which  may 
be  defined  as  follows: 

The  plastered  or  gunite  concrete  house  is  one  having  a  reinforced 
concrete  structural  framework,  either  cast  in  place  or  shot  with  a  cement 
gun  and  having  comparatively  thin  exterior  double  walls  of  concrete 
formed  by  plastering  or  shooting  concrete  on  expanded  metal,  or  mesh 
reinforcement.  This  type  may  or  may  not  have  concrete  floors  and  roof. 
If  not  wholly  of  concrete,  ''metal  lumber"  makes  the  best  substitute. 
Wood  floor  joists  and  wood  stud  partitions  should  be  used  only  when 
economy  in  first  cost  is  demanded. 

One  of  the  greatest  objections  to  monolithic  concrete  construction  is 
the  bother  and  expense  of  forms.  This  is  particularly  true  of  dwelling 
house  construction  because  of  its  endless  variety,  with  complication  of 
openings,  angles,  etc.  There  can  be  no  question  but  that  the  ultimate  to 
be  desired  in  concrete  house  construction  is  a  design  in  which  every 
piece  that  is  erected  remains  put  and  forms  a  permanent,  integral,  nec- 
essary part  of  the  structure. 

Insulation  is  a  matter  which  vitally  affects  the  comfort  of  a  house, 
as  well  as  the  cost  of  heating  it.  Control  of  heat  loss  and  ventilation  is 
fundamental  to  success  in  the  design  of  a  heating  plant,  and  such  con- 
trol cannot  be  obtained  with  exterior  walls  having  poor  insulating 
qualities.  Insulation  of  exterior  walls  of  houses  is  also  required  to 
prevent  condensation  of  moisture  on  the  interior  surface  of  these  walls. 


168  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

regardless  of  the  type  of  construction.  Masonry  walled  houses  are 
always  furred,  lathed  and  plastered  on  the  inside,  thus  producing  an 
air  space  between  the  masonry  wall  and  the  interior  of  the  house, 
which  furnishes  the  required  insulation  to  prevent  a  sufficient  differ- 
ence in  temperature  being  established  between  the  wall  surface  and  the 
air  within  the  house  to  cause  condensation.  Concrete  houses,  of  what- 
ever type,  are  no  exception  to  this  requirement  for  insulation,  and  the 
designers  of  this  group  make  it  possible  to  supply  the  requirements  of 
insulation  by  including  a  dead  air  space  in  the  wall  proper.  The  plas- 
tered and  gunite  types  have  a  concrete  exterior  wall  about  2  inches 
thick,  separated  from  the  interior  finish  by  a  dead  air  space,  as  will 
appear  by  examining  the  various  methods  of  construction  described  in 
this  report. 

Any  air  space  in  a  wall  to  be  effective  must  have  no  connection  with 
the  outside  of  the  building,  and  should  be  limited  to  such  width  and 
arrangement  as  to  prevent  convectional  currents  of  air  being  set  up 
within  the  air  space  itself.  The  outside  wall  of  the  plastered  or  gunite 
house  is  usually  only  from  1^  to  2  inches  thick,  but  this  wall  is  rein- 
forced in  all  directions  by  expanded  metal  or  mesh  reinforcement  which 
is  completely  imbedded  in  the  wall.  The  wall  is  moreover  supported 
on  all  four  sides  by  the  reinforced  concrete  framework  so  that  it  is 
required  to  act  merely  as  a  '' curtain"  wall.  Good  workmanship  will 
insure  a  very  dense  wall  1^  or  2  inches  thick  which  is  not  only  imper- 
vious to  moisture  under  the  most  severe  weather  conditions,  but  also 
prevents  any  appreciable  transfer  of  air  between  the  dead  air  space 
and  the  exterior.  While  the  wall  itself  possesses  some  insulating  value, 
it  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  entrapped  air  within  the  dead  air  space 
is  depended  on  for  insulation. 

If  a  very  high  degree  of  insulation  is  desired,  this  type  of  construc- 
tion allows  the  use  of  various  insulating  mediums,  such  as  heavy  water- 
proof building  paper,  corkboard,  felt,  etc.,  which  can  be  applied  in 
sheets  directly  to  the  inside  surface  of  the  outside  wall. 

The  second  fundamental  requirement  is  fully  met  by  this  method 
of  construction  but  an  examination  of  building  codes  in  various  cities 
reveals  the  fact  that  the  requirements  of  the  construction  of  ordinary 
dwelling  houses  are  based  on  familiar  practice  in  the  construction  of 
masonry  walls  comprised  of  small  units  set  in  mortar,  or  on  frame  con- 
struction. 

The  plastered  or  gunite  type  of  house,  as  above  defined,  may  truly 
be  said  to  be  a  new  type  of  construction  to  most  building  commissioners 
and  inspectors.  It  is  not  to  be  expected,  therefore,  that  present  build- 
ing codes  provide  directly  for  the  use  of  such  construction.  However, 
this  type  does  fulfill  the  fundamental  requirements  of  strength  and  fire- 
resistive  qualities.  The  structural  framework  is  of  reinforced  concrete 
cast  in  place  or  shot  into  place  with  a  cement  gun.  The  sizes  and  rein- 
forcing of  the  various  structural  parts  are  easily  varied  \o  meet  all 
specified  load  conditions  and  are  matters  of  simple  engineering  design. 
The  exterior  walls  are,  of  course,  thin  as  compared  with  those  specified 
for  ordinary  masonry  bearing  walls,  but  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that 
this  is  an  entirely  different  type  of  construction.  The  exterior  walls  of 
the  plastered  or  gunite  type  of  house  have  a  reinforced  concrete  frame 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  169 

which  in  conjunction  with  the  reinforced  thin  slabs  make  strong  and 
rigid  bearing  walls  and  have  the  elements  of  strength  of  the  well  known 
reinfovced  concrete  floor.  Lack  of  familiarity  is,  therefore,  the  only 
excuse  for  hesitation  in  allowing  this  type  of  dwelling  house  to  be  con- 
structed within  the  fire  limits  of  cities  or  in  any  other  localities. 

The  results  of  such  tests  as  are  available  on  the  fire-resistive  ability 
of  a  double  concrete  wall  such  as  above  described,  indicate  its  ability 
to  withstand  the  1-hour  fire  test  without  serious  injury.  It  will  be 
recalled  that  the  usual  building  code  requirement  for  the  thickness  of 
concrete  covering  over  reinforcing  for  flat  surfaces,  such  as  in  floors, 
is  from  §  to  1^  inch,  with  an  average  of  about  1  inch.  This  indicates 
at  once  that  the  exterior  reinforced  concrete  wall,  2  inches  thick,  prac- 
tically fulfills  the  usual  building  code  requirement  for  fireproofing  even 
for  large  fireproof  buildings. 

In  the  average  dwelling  house  there  is  not  enough  combustible  fur- 
nishings to  produce  a  fire  of  sufficient  intensity  and  duration  to  affect  in 
any  serious  way  the  reinforced  concrete  framework  of  this  type  of  build- 
ing.    A  favorable  insurance  rate  is,  therefore,  justified. 

Another  point  that  occurs  to  your  committee  in  examining  this 
group  is  the  fact  that  there  has  been  introduced  an  entirely  new  ele- 
ment of  safety,  elsewhere  non-existent. 

It  will  be  noted  that  in  all  these  types  there  is  a  form  of  wall  con- 
struction consisting  of  relatively  thin  walls  with  relatively  a  very  high 
degree  of  steel  reinforcement,  all  thoroughly  knit  together  into  a  strong 
unit.  The  effect  is  the  same  as  that  of  wire  glass.  It  may  be  cracked 
and  broken,  but  it  will  not  go  to  pieces.  Not  only  should  it  be  in  a  high 
degree  cyclone  and  earthquake-proof,  but  it  should  be  like  wire  glass, 
flame  resisting. 

The  conclusions  which  your  Committee  reaches  after  examining 
the  designs  available  in  this  group  are  as  follows: 

1.  All  structural  requirements  are  fully  met  in  the  plastered  or 
gunite  type  of  liouse  herein  defined. 

2.  The  framework  and  walls  of  this  type  are  of  fireproof  material 
and  are  sufficient  to  withstand  without  serious  injury  any  conceivable 
dwelling  house  fire. 

3.  It  follows  that  building  codes  should  allow  this  type  of  con- 
struction within  the  fire  limit  of  cities,  and  that  insurance  rates  should 
credit  in  fidl  this  type  as  fireproof  construction  in  all  portions  where 
concrete  is  used. 

4.  The  insulating  qualities  of  the  double  wall  produced  by  this 
type  (or  method)  is  sufficient  to  prevent  condensation  of  moisture  on 
the  interior  of  exterior  walls  and  insidating  mediums  can  easily  be 
applied  to  obtain  any  desired  degree  of  insulation. 

5.  Concrete  floors  produce  a  thoroughly  fireproof  and  sanitary 
structure.  Concrete  floors  should  preferably  have  embedded  nailing 
strips  or  be  covered  with  a  layer  of  nail-coat  to  which  a  wood  floor  may  be 
nailed  or  be  covered  by  rugs,  carpets,  or  special,  easily  removed  floor 
coverings. 

6.  The  use  of  plastered  or  gunite  concrete  houses  lend  themselves 


170  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

to  flexibility  of  design  so  tJiat  the  arcJiitect  is  not  hampered  by  any  pre- 
determined unit  in  working  out  the  design  of  his  building.  Further- 
more, he  can  have  different  texture  finishes  for  the  exterior  walls  and 
trim  the  building  with  wood  porches,  cornices  and  the  like  as  is  cus- 
tomary in  the  standard  wood  frame  covered  with  stucco,  while  at  the 
same  time  securing  the  fireproof  qualities  in  the  exterior  of  the  wall 
construction  with  a  minimum  expenditure  of  material,  which  is  about 
one-third  of  what  a  monolithic  7  inch  wall  would  be,  thus  conserving 
materials,  and  operating  to  keep  the  cost  of  construction  at  a  point  that 
more  houses  can  be  built  for  a  given  amount  of  money  than  would  be 
the  case  where  heavy  masonry  walls  are  used. 

7.  The  particular  type  which  a  builder  should  select  out  of  this 
group  will  depend  on  the  availability  and  relative  cost  of  materials, 
power,  and  of  skilled  artisans  and  common  labor. 

8.  All  types  are  good  in  design  and  will  make  superior  houses,  if 
the  work  is  properly  executed. 

9.  A  concerted  effort  should  be  made  by  the  parties  in  this  group 
to  get  tests  made  by  the  Underwriters^  Laboratories,  so  as  to  get  definite 
and  favorable  rulings  on  city  building  codes  and  insurance  rates. 

Committee  on  Plastered  and  Gunite  Houses 

Emile  G.   Perrot,   Chairman,   Philadelphia 

J.   V.   Schaefer,   Secretary,  Chicago 

Wharton  Clay,  Chicago 

C.  L.  Dewey,  Allentown,  Pa. 

C.  W.  Donaldson,  Chicago 

A.  C.  Irwin,  Chicago 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION 


171 


CONCRETE  STUD  AND  CEMENT  STUCCO 
CONSTRUCTION 

BALLINGER  &  PERROT  SYSTEM 

Ballinger  &  Perrot,  Philadelphia. 

Modern  practice  has  proved  it  economical  to  construct  commercial 
and  industrial  buildings  by  using  supporting  piers  or  columns  of  rein- 
forced concrete  for  the  exterior  walls,  with  spandrel  beams  at  each  floor 
level,  filling  in  the  intervening  wall  surface  with  a  thin  curtain  wall. 


A  partly  completed  house  at  South  Ardmore,  Pa.,  being  erected  according  to  the  Ballinger  & 

Perrot  System. 

The  same  principle  applied  to  walls  for  houses  promotes  economy  and 
speed  of  erection. 

This  system  is  an  improvement  over  the  standard  wood  frame  con- 
struction covered  with  metal  lath  and  stucco.  It  introduces  concrete 
studs  and  plates  into  the  wood  frame,  which  with  the  stucco  wall  fomis  a 
' '  concrete  cage ' '  possessing  economies  in  design  of  a  light  framework  by 
comparison  with  solid  masonry  walls.  The  system  utilizes  trade  prac- 
tices and  materials  found  in  all  parts  of  the  country  and  obviates  the 
need  of  training  workers  in  a  new  trade. 

Complete  fireproofness  is  not  claimed  for  this  system  of  construe- 


172 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Detail  of  house  at  So.  Ardmore,  Pa.    Exterior  wall  surface  is  prepared  to  receive  the  stucco 
finish.     Ballinger  &  Perrot  System. 


tion,  but  the  concrete  studs  and  beams  at  story  height  and  the  plastered 
or  gunite  walls  offer  security  against  collapse  from  a  fire  originating 
within  and  from  the  spread  of  fire  through  exterior  walls. 

No  departure  need  be  made  from  the  usual  wood  joist  for  floors  and 
wood  studs  for  partitions  unless  entirely  fireproof  construction  is 
desired.    The  method  of  building  after  this  system  is  as  follows : 

The  cellar  is  excavated  and  stone  or  concrete  foundation  walls  are 
built.  The  first-floor  joists  are  then  set  in  place  on  the  foundation  wall. 
On  these  a  typical  wood  frame,  with  certain  modifications,  consisting  of 
studs,  joists  and  rafters,  is  erected  in  the  usual  manner  of  building  the 
skeleton  of  a  frame  house.  Every  fourth  stud  is  doubled,  with  a  3  by  4 
inch  space  between.  At  the  second  floor  level  a  ledger  board  with  bottom 
attached  is  placed  over  the  studs,  the  bottom  board  being  cut  out  over 
the  space  between  the  double  studs.  On  top  of  this  ledger  board,  or 
stringer,  the  second  floor  joists  are  set,  then  the  second-story  studs  with 
the  wall  plate,  built  similar  to  that  at  the  second  floor  level.  The  roof 
rafters  resting  on  the  wall  plate  are  wood.  When  this  wood  frame  has 
been  completed  and  the  roof  is  on,  heavy  waterproof  paper  is  nailed  to 
the  outside  of  the  exterior  wall  studs,  leaving  the  space  between  the 
doubled  studs  as  well  as  the  outside  of  the  ledger  beams,  open  to  receive 
steel  rods  and  concrete.  The  metal  lath,  or  concrete  reinforcement,  is 
stretched  over  the  waterproof  paper.  The  wood  studs  act  in  the  dual 
capacity  of  supporting  the  cement  stucco  while  it  is  being  applied  and 
as  furring  in  the  finished  building.    A  l|-inch  coating  of  cement  stucco 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  173 

is  applied  to  the  exterior,  first  filling  up  the  spaces  forming  the  studs 
and  horizontal  ledger  beams  with  cement  mortar.  The  concrete  studs 
are  continuous  from  foundation  to  roof,  and  with  the  reinforced  con- 
crete ledger  beams  produce  a  rigid  concrete  frame. 

The  rapidity  with  which  this  type  of  house  can  be  erected  is  de- 
pendent only  upon  the  number  of  workmen  employed  at  any  one  time. 

The  vertical  concrete  studs  carry  all  the  load,  so  that  there  is  no 
shrinkage  or  settlement  to  contend  with  in  this  monolithic  structure. 

The  party  walls  merely  have  a  skim  coat  of  white  plaster  applied 
to  the  cement  finish,  which  makes  a  saving  of  20  per  cent  on  this  wall 
alone,  as  the  ''scratch"  coat  is  omitted.  The  saving  on  the  exterior 
walls  is  33  1/3  per  cent. 

Floors  are  of  wood,  upon  wood  joists,  and  the  partitions  are  of  wood 
studs,  lathed  and  plastered  in  the  customary  manner.  Substitutes  for 
plastering,  such  as  wall  boards  and  composition  boards,  are  not  satisfac- 
tory, because  in  spite  of  their  lower  first  cost,  they  buckle  as  the  building 
ages,  and  the  numerous  joints  permit  vermin  to  enter  and  breed  inside 
the  walls  and  partitions. 

By  standardizing  the  details  of  houses  and  applying  well  organized 
methods  in  their  erection,  group  houses  varying  from  four  to  ten  in 
number  can  be  completed  for  less  cost  than  the  customary  type  built  of 
8-inch  brick  exterior  and  party  walls. 

THE  DONALDSON  SYSTEM  OF  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUC- 
TION WITHOUT  THE  USE  OF  FORMS. 

By  the  use  of  the  Donaldson  System  a  building  is  erected  of  mono- 
lithic reinforced  concrete  without  the  use  of  forms.  Ribbed  expanded 
metal  or  mesh  is  utilized  as  forms  for  the  construction  of  columns, 
beams,  floors,  walls,  stairs,  porches,  roofs  and  all  details.  The  expanded 
metal  or  mesh  thus  serves  the  double  purpose  of  forms  and  reinforce- 
ment. 

Columns,  beams  and  floor  slabs  are  cast  in  place  using  a  1 :2 :4  quaky 
mix.  The  concrete  works  through  the  mesh  and  forms  a  button  that 
engages  the  steel.  Exhaustive  tests  made  in  Philadelphia,  personally 
directed  by  George  Warner  of  the  Bureau  of  Building  Inspection  in 
1916,  and  tests  by  the  manufacturers  of  rib  expanded  mesh  have  proved 
that  slabs  cast  in  this  manner  develop  great  strength.  There  is  no  waste 
of  concrete  in  columns,  beams,  floors  and  roof  slabs,  for  the  amount 
coming  through  the  mesh  acts  as  a  scratch  coat  for  plastering. 

Exterior  Walls 

A  ribbed  reinforcing  mesh  is  erected  as  the  building  goes  up.  Since 
the  load  is  carried  on  columns  and  beams,  the  outside  wall  is  merely  a 
curtain  wall.  It  is  plastered  four  coats  to  about  2  inches  thick  with  a 
Portland  cement  plaster  of  1 :2J  mixture  with  a  small  amount  of  hy- 
drated  lime.  These  four  coats  include  the  outside  finish,  which  may  be 
done  in  a  splatter  dash  float  finish,  dry  rock  dash,  or  stucco.  The  exterior 
wall  as  described  with  stucco  finish,  is  in  no  sense  stucco  construction  but 
a  2-inch  reinforced  concrete  wall. 


174 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Three  inches  inside  of  the  outside  walls  a  slot  is  left  in  the  floor 
about  J-inch  deep  in  which  the  end  of  ribbed  metal  lath  is  dropped  and 
fastened  securely  to  the  bottom  of  the  ceiling  cove  and  column  sides 
and  plastered  with  a  scratch  and  brown  coat  of  cement  plaster  and  a 
finished  coat  as  desired.  The  inner  wall  lath  may  be  back  plastered 
before  set  in  place,  thus  completely  covering  all  metal  throughout  the 
building.  A  dead  air  space  of  from  two  to  three  inches  between  inner 
and  outer  walls  is  obtained,  assuring  the  elimination  of  dampness  and 
desired  insulation.  There  is  no  connection  between  inner  and  outer  wall 
except  at  columns  and  beams,  but  for  an  exceptionally  high  ceiling, 
ai.:^les  may  be  fastened  to  the  back  side  of  the  inner  lath  to  act  as  stiff- 
eners. 

Inside  Partitions 

These  are  formed  by  erecting  a  single  reinforcing  mesh,  allowing 
it  to  extend  into  the  beam  about  four  inches,  thus  fastening  it  at  the 
top,  while  the  J-inch  slot  "in  the  floor  receives  the  bottom  of  the  mesh. 
The  partition  is  then  plastered  with  a  three-coat  cement  plaster  and  a 
finish  coat  applied  to  each  side,  making  a  2-inch  thick  partition  mono- 
lithic with  the  remainder  of  the  building. 

Stair  Construction 

Inside  and  outside  stairs  are  formed  by  using  an  expanded,  ribbed, 
metal  lath  with  a  stringer  of  the  same  material,  or  it  may  be  erected 
betweeji  two  walls  without  a  stringer.  Portland  cement  plaster  is 
applied,  first  to  the  top  of  the  tread  and  the  face  of  the  riser,  then  back 
plastered  underneath,  after  which  the  finish  coat  is  applied  to  the  top 
surface.  Stairs  may  be  built  in  this  manner  a  great  deal  cheaper  than 
wooden  stairs.  Stairs  are  also  monolithic  with  the  building  and  can  be 
faced  if  desired  with  wood  trim.  Stairs  built  after  this  method  over 
two  years  ago  are  perfect  in  every  way.  It  is  a  very  simple  matter  to 
erect  spiral  stairs  in  this  manner. 


A  group  of  Donaldson  System  Houses  at  East  Youngstown,  Ohio. 


on  concrete  house  construction  175 

Roof  Construction. 

Reinforced  concrete  roofs  of  any  shape  or  design  are  easily  built 
under  this  system.  The  roof  beams  are  cast  in  place  and  are  tied  into 
the  columns,  producing  a  rigid  frame.  Roof  slabs  are  monolithic  with 
the  roof  beams  and  thus  produce  a  continuous  roof  structure.  By  using 
a  mix  developed  for  this  purpose  for  a  top  coat,  a  nailing  surface  is 
obtained  for  attaching  any  desired  roof  covering.  Long  span  roof 
trusses  may  be  constructed  with  facility  according  to  this  system. 

Floor  Finishes 

A  special  top  coating  of  cement  mix  may  be  used  which  is  troweled 
smooth,  waxed  and  colored  as  desired.  Or* a  finished  floor  of  wood  can 
be  securely  nailed  directly  to  this  surface. 

Inside  Finish 

The  base  may  be  cement  plaster,  monolithic  with  the  walls,  finished 
smooth  and  stained  or  grained  to  imitate  wood,  at  a  cost  of  about  one- 
fourth  that  of  pine;  or  ordinary  trim  may  be  used  in  the  base  and 
casings,  grounds  being  placed  to  receive  the  trim. 

Flower  boxes  may  be  built  as  a  part  of  the  building.  Porch 
columns,  rails,  newels  and  balustrades  may  be  erected  any  shape  or  style 
desired  and  the  cost  in  most  cases  will  be  less  than  if  built  of  wood. 

Summary 

By  this  system  unlimited  architectural  range  is  allowed.  It  is  as 
easy  to  build  100  houses  of  100  different  designs  as  to  build  all  of  the 
same  design.  The  reinforcing  mesh  is  easily  formed  in  the  field, 
requiring  but  a  pair  of  snips  and  wire  pliers  to  do  the  work.  Shop 
drawings  and  specifications  are  furnished  to  the  manufacturer  of  the 
reinforcing  mesh  for  cutting  so  that  it  is  sent  to  the  job  ready  cut, 
bundled  and  plainly  marked  for  erection.  This  eliminates  waste.  Addi- 
tional reinforcement  required  in  girders,  beams  and  columns  is  supplied 
with  ordinary  bars  where  needed.  The  mesh  in  beam  construction  is 
bent  up  to  act  as  a  form  for  the  sides  of  the  beam,  and  acts  as  continuous 
shear  reinforcement.  The  mesh  in  column  construction  provides  con- 
tinuous hoop  reinforcing. 

This  system  has  been  used  for  two  years  in  the  building  of  resi- 
dences, apartment  houses  and  warehouses.  The  required  stiiictural 
strength  is  furnished  by  the  reinforced  concrete  columns,  beams,  floor 
and  roof  slab,  all  of  which  are  concreted  before  any  of  the  outside  walls 
are  completed,  as  in  the  erection  of  a  skeleton  steel  frame  for  an  office 
building. 

The  following  are  examples  of  the  use  of  the  Donaldson  System: 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  for  the  Realty  Trust  Co.,  of  Youngstown,  Ohio. 

Industrial  housing  for  General  Firep  roofing  Co.,  Youngs- 
town, Ohio. 

Warehouse  work  and  industrial  housing,  Standard  Portland  Cement 
Co.,  Leeds,  Ala. 


176  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

Industrial  housing  and  warehouse  construction  for  Eva  Jane  Cotton 
Mills,  Scylacauga,  Ala. 

Industrial  housing  and  warehouse  construction,  Avondale  Cotton 
Mills,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

A  large  community  building  for  Avondale  Cotton  Mills,  Birming- 
ham, Ala. 

Store  buildings  and  filling  stations  for  the  Wofford  Oil  Co.,  Bir- 
mingham, Ala.,  and  Atlanta,  Ga. 


TKAYLOK-DEWEY  CONTRACTING  CO.'S  SYSTEM  OF  GUNITE 
BUILDING  WALL  CONSTRUCTION. 

The  method  devised  by  the  Traylor-Dewey  Contracting  Co.,  of 
Allentown,  Pa.,  is  being  used  by  one  of  its  officers  in  building  his  new 
residence  and  may  be  briefly  described  as  follows : 

Cellar  walls  and  foundations  are  constructed  of  concrete  by  ordi- 
nary methods.  Upon  this  foundation  a  2  by  6  inch  runner  is  laid  flat- 
wise so  that  the  floor  beams  will  extend  about  3  inches  beyond  its  outside 
edge. 

Wall  Forms 

These  units  consist  of  a  light  framework  over  which  two-ply  tar 
paper  is  fastened  to  furnish  a  backing  against  which  the  outside  wall  is 
''shot"  or  applied  and  which  carries  the  interior  plastered  finish.  The 
framework  consists  of  2  by  4  inch  top  and  bottom  pieces  with  1-inch  thick 
uprights  and  cross  pieces  and  with  No.  10  wires  horizontal  between 
cross  pieces  stretched  and  stapled  to  the  verticals.  When  the  forms  are 
in  place,  the  2  by  4  bottom  cross  pieces  extend  under  the  ends  of  the 
floor  beams  and  butt  against  the  2  by  6  inch  runner  on  the  foundation. 

The  forms  are  so  placed  as  to  leave  a  4-inch  space  between  units  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  concrete  studs.  Each  complete  form  unit  is 
connected  to  its  mate  by  a  1  by  6  inch  board,  providing  the  back  form 
for  the  concrete  stud. 

Each  stud  is  reinforced  by  two  J-inch  round  rods  passing  through 
f-inch  holes  punched  in  angle  clips  fastened  to  the  1  by  6  strip.    Each  1 
stud  is  anchored  to  the  foundation  by  means  of  a  short  f-inch  anchor    ■ 
bar  previously  cast  in  the  concrete  foundation  and  left  to  project  into 
the  stud  about  6  inches. 

The  inner  surfaces  of  the  corner  studs  are  formed  by  the  sides  of 
the  adjoining  form  units,  the  angle  clips  being  attached  to  the  side 
members  of  the  form  units.  Three  ^-inch  bars  are  used  in  each  corner 
stud. 

Floor  Beam  Supports 

After  setting  up  the  first  story  form  units,  a  2  by  6  inch  timber  is 
placed  edgewise  on  top  of  the  2  by  4  top  members  of  the  form 
units,  with  its  inner  face  flush  with  the  inner  edge  of  the  2  by  4  's.    This 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  177 

serves  in  part  as  a  support  for  the  floor  beams  of  second  story  and  in 
part  as  backing  against  which  to  shoot  the  gunite. 

The  frame  work  for  the  interior  partitions  is  then  erected  and  the 
floor  beams  for  the  second  story  put  in  place,  their  ends  resting  upon 
the  2  by  6  and  extending  two  inches  beyond  its  outer  face.  The  spaces 
between  the  ends  of  the  floor  beams  are  then  filled  in  with  1  by  8  inch 
boards  placed  with  outer  faces  flush  with  the  2  by  6  immediately  below. 
A  form  is  thus  made  for  a  reinforced  gunite  beam,  reinforced  by  ^-inch 
bars,  which  not  only  serves  as  a  support  for  the  floor  beams,  but  in  con- 
nection with  the  gunite  between  ends  of  floor  beams,  as  an  effective 
firestop  between  the  first  and  second  stories. 

The  second  story  form  units  are  constructed  and  erected  in  the  same 
manner  as  those  of  the  first  story  with  practically  the  same  arrangements 
for  roof  supports  as  described  for  the  floor  supports  of  the  second  story. 

' '  Steelcrete ' '  reinforcement  is  firmly  attached  to  the  forms  by  means 
of  special  mesh  clamps  which  not  only  secures  the  reinforcement,  but 
holds  it  away  from  the  tar  paper  surface  about  one-half  inch.  In  all  cases 
where  the  reinforcement  crosses  studs  it  is  firmly  wired  to  the  outside 
stud  reinforcing  bar. 

Gunite  Exterior  Walls 

The  gunite  exterior  walls  are  IJ  inch  thick  composed  of  1  part  port- 
land  cement  and  3  parts  sand  or  crushed  slag.  Special  wooden  strips 
are  used  as  may  be  necessary  to  insure  square  and  true  corners  and 
leave  a  rough  gunite  finished  surface. 

Interior  Finish 

To  the  strip  forming  the  back  of  the  studs  and  to  the  inner  edge  of 
the  uprights  of  the  form  units,  which  are  flush  with  stud  strips,  metal 
lath  is  attached  and  plaster  applied  by  the  ordinary  hand  methods,  thus 
leaving  a  5-inch  air  space  between  the  inner  and  outer  walls  with  an 
effective  gunite  flre  stop  at  floors. 

Advantages 

Hollow  enclosing  walls  constructed  in  the  manner  described  utilize 
the  minimum  amount  of  lumber  and  other  materials  and  produce  a  well 
insulated  structure. 

The  tar  paper  backing  of  the  form  units  serves  not  only  as  a  back- 
ing against  which  to  apply  the  gunite  but  as  an  insulator  as  well. 


178  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

CELLULAR  GUN-CRETE  HOUSE 

As  Advocated  by  Cement  Gun  Construction  Co.,  Chicago.  III. 

The  Gun-Crete  house  had  its  origin  in  the  desire  to  use  the  well- 
known  work  of  the  cement  gun  in  house  construction. 

Name 

The  word  Cellular  is  used  because  Gun-Crete  house  walls  are  built 
up  of  dead  air  cells,  the  best  heat  insulator  known;  and  Gun-Crete 
because  the  material  is  concrete  made  with  a  cement  gun. 

IV  ALLS 

Gun-Concrete  walls  consist  of  reinforced  concrete  outer  walls  all 
shot  in  place  at  one  operation  with  cement  guns  operating  at  35  pounds 
pressure  per  square  inch,  with  a  mixture  of  1  part  of  portland  cement 
and  3^  parts  coarse  sand.  No  forms  are  used.  A  tarred  felt  fabric 
stiffened  with  wire  is  bent  into  shape  and  stapled  to  1  by  2  inch  wood 
furring  strips  regularly  spaced  which  serve  as  a  backing  to  shoot  against 
and  as  an  additional  insulation.  The  furring  strip  is  integral  with  each 
stud  and  holds  the  inner  plastered  wall,  which  also  is  backed  with  a  layer 
of  tarred  felt. 

The  wall  elements  are  shown  in  the  detail  of  a  typical  Gun-Crete 
liouse  on  the  opposite  page.    They  consist  of: 

A.  An  outer  reinforced   concrete   wall   integral  with   reinforced 

concrete  studs. 

B.  An  inner  plastered  wall,  preferably  of  cement  plaster,  so  it  can 

be  washed  down  with  a  hose. 

C.  A  dry  wood  strip  positively  separating  inner  and  outer  wall 

with  no  metallic  connection  between  them,  preventing  any 
conduction  of  heat  or  moisture  from  one  wall  to  the  other. 

D.  An  air  space  sealed  on  all  sides  and  lined  with  non-conducting 

felt. 

Ploors 

Floor  joists  are  of  reinforced  concrete,  precast  to  accomplish  speed 
of  construction.  They  are  spaced  in  line  with  studs  with  reinforcement 
interlacing. 

Floors  are  of  reinforced  gunite  with  reinforcement  interlacing  with 
wall  reinforcement.     They  may  be  covered  with  wood  floors,  if  desired. 

Trim 

Doors  and  windows  may  be  of  wood  or  metal,  as  desired. 

Interior 

Plumbing,  lighting  and  heating  are  as  for  other  construction.  The 
wall  cells  may  be  used  for  concealed  wiring  without  danger  of  fire. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


179 


Roof 

The  Gun-Crete  house  is  complete  with  a  flat  concrete  roof,  though 
any  kind  of  a  roof  may  be  built. 

Advantages  of  a  Gun- Crete  House 

1.  It  is  fire  resisting. 

2.  It  is  sanitary.  Vermin  cannot  propagate  or  migrate  in  it.  If 
vermin  or  contagious  disease  germs  get  in,  the  house  may  be  washed  out 
with  a  hose,  or  fumigated. 

3.  It  is  stormproof.  An  earthquake  or  a  cyclone  might  distort  it, 
but  it  cannot  fall  down,  nor  be  blown  to  pieces. 

4.  It  is  made  largely  of  local  material. 

5.  When  built  in  quantity,  it  is  relatively  inexpensive  and  cost  of 
upkeep  is  low. 

6.  It  can  be  built  largely  with  unskilled  labor. 

7.  It  can  be  built  quickly  and  without  forms. 


Perspective  view  cut  away  showing  typical  Gun-Crete  house. 


180  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

REMARKS. 

Cornelius  Leenhouts:  Years  ago  I  had  occasion  to  remove  plas- 
ter and  concrete  applied  to  expanded  metal  because  it  had  started  to 
break  loose.  I  found  nothing  but  streaks  of  rust  where  the  expanded 
metal  had  been.  What  assurance  have  you  that  expanded  metal  close 
to  the  surface  of  the  exterior  wall  and  fitting  against  a  wood  form  where 
moisture  can  get  at  it  \^dll'not  be  rusted  out  in  the  course  of  ten  years? 

C.  I.  Dewey:  In  1910,  when  we  were  working  out  the  cement 
gun,  we  coated  several  buildings  in  Whitestone,  L.  I.,  which  is  right  on 
Long  Island  Sound,  and  exposed  to  salt  air.  That  work  is  as  perfect 
today  as  when  finished.  A  1 :3  mixture  properly  applied  with  a  cement 
gun  to  the  thickness  of  an  inch  is  absolutelj^  watertight.  We  are  doing 
waterproofing  of  reservoirs  and  tunnels  and  will  take  contracts  to  water- 
proof against  a  hundred  foot  head  with  1  inch  of  gunite  and  absolutely 
guarantee  the  job.  We  depend  entirely  on  the  density  of  the  material. 
We  do  not  use  any  waterproofing  material  of  any  kind  whatever. 

C.  W.  Donaldson  :  Up  to  a  few  years  ago  I  built  reinforced  con- 
crete construction  in  the  old-fashioned  way.  Now  I  am  using  reinforc- 
ing as  a  formality.  We  have  used  many  of  the  ribbed  meshes  for  a 
number  of  years  for  reinforcement  with  the  structural  steel  frame.  I 
am  using  a  mesh  in  column,  beam,  floor  and  roof  construction  and  put- 
ting in  a  curtain  wall  on  the  outside.  The  load  is  all  carried  on  the 
beams  and  columns,  giving  a  dead  air  space  between  inner  and  outer 
walls. 

I  should  like  to  read  a  letter  to  you: 

'^  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Dec.  3,  1919. 
Donaldson  Concrete  Construction  Company, 
420  Jefferson  County  Bank  Bldg., 
City. 
Attention  Mr.  Donaldson.  ^ 

Dear  Sir: 

After  inspecting  work  done  under  the  Donaldson  System  of 
Reinforced  Concrete  Construction  without  the  use  of  forms  in  the 
Birmingham  District,  I  have  become  convinced  that  your  system  of 
construction  is  thoroughly  practical  and  offers  a  great  saving  in  cost 
as  well  as  in  time  over  any  other  method  in  reinforced  concrete 
construction. 

I  am  instructing  my  engineering  department  to  submit  to  your 
office  data  for  bridge  work  to  be  designed  under  your  system  of 
construction,  and  feel  that  it  will  effect  a  very  considerable  saving 
over  the  form  method. 

Yours  truly, 

S.  R.  Batson. 
(Member  Federal  Highway  Council,  State  Highway  Commis- 
sioner of  Alabama;  Highway  Engineer  of  Jefferson  County,  Con- 
.    suiting  Engineer  for  the  City  of  Bessemer.)  " 

Wall  costs  in  Chicago  today  on  residence  construction  can  be  let 
under  my  system  for  about  27  cents  a  foot,  giving  you  a  2-inch  rein- 
forced concrete  wall. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  181 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  CONCRETE 
BLOCK  HOUSES 

In  block,  brick  and  structural  tile  made  of  concrete,  we  have  three 
building  materials  which  have  survived  the  most  severe  criticism  and 
prejudice  of  their  earlier  years.  Houses  built  of  these  units  more  than 
a  score  of  years  ago  are  still  standing  and  to  all  appearances  are  prac- 
tically as  good  as  when  erected. 

Concrete  building  units  are  now  recognized  for  their  true  worth 
as  structural  materials.  Manufacturers  have  accepted  all  criticisms 
as  constructive  and  by  constant  effort  to  improve  their  product  have 
acquired  considerably  more  skill  in  making  these  units  than  had  the 
pioneers  in  the  business.  « 

The  only  valid  objection  which  can  be  held  against  the  earlier  struc- 
tures is  their  appearance.  The  effort  to  simulate  cut  stone  has  been 
the  chief  cause  of  prejudice.  Had  skilled  artisans  recognized  the  struc- 
tural possibilities  of  concrete  block  when  they  were  introduced  and  used 
their  talent  to  direct  the  work,  no  doubt  this  objection  would  have  been 
forestalled.  Today,  building  units  are  being  developed  and  manu- 
factured which  are  unsurpassed  by  any  other  masonry  material,  either 
in  appearance  or  structural  soundness. 

One  of  the  outstanding  merits  of  concrete  block  and  tile  is  the  insu- 
lation afforded  by  the  air  space  in  the  wall.  In  making  a  hollow  unit, 
the  manufacturer  has  achieved  a  double  purpose,  he  not  only  has  re- 
duced the  amount  of  material  that  would  be  necessary  for  solid  wall 
construction,  but  has  also  furnished  a  good  insulating  medium.  Houses 
constructed  of  these  concrete  building  units  are  comfortable  at  all  times, 
cool  in  summer  and  easily  heated  in  winter. 

Speed  of  erection,  a  point  always  foremost  in  the  minds  of  con- 
tractors and  builders,  is  one  of  the  chief  advantages  of  these  easily 
handled  units. 

One  of  the  accepted  practices  of  the  building  industry  is  to  use 
those  materials  nearest  at  hand.  Concrete  aggregates,  common  to  most 
localities,  constitute  in  bulk  and  weight,^  the  principal  materials  used. 
Thus  the  use  of  concrete  building  units  reduce  the  demand  on  our 
transportation  systems  to  a  minimum. 

At  present,  approximately  4,000  concrete  products  plants  are  in 
operation  in  the  United  States.  No  great  outlay  of  capital  is  necessary 
to  build  and  equip  temporary  products  plants,  such  as  would  be  suitable 
to  establish  at  points  where  extensive  building  operations  are  in  prog- 
ress. In  such  locations  quick  delivery  of  manufactured  units  to  the 
building  site  is  assured.  A  well  equipped  plant  operates  the  year  'round 
and  a  reserve  stock  of  concrete  building  units  may  be  made  during  the 
winter  months  for  the  following  summer's  use. 

So  numerous  are  the  treatments  to  which  the  surface  of  these 
units  may  be  subjected  that  they  may  be  used  for  the  construction  of 
every  house  in  a  city  block  without  repetition  of  surface  texture  or  color. 
The  design  of  every  house  in  a  community  may  be  varied  with  these 
flexible  units  without  materially  increasing  the  cost. 


182 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


The  substantial  appearance 
of  these  concrete  block  res- 
idences impresses  one  with 
their    permanent    character. 


ON  C 01^^ CRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  183 

The  demand  today  is  for  a  material  with  which  individuality  can 
be  expressed  and  at  the  same  time  one  which  meets  all  the  requirements 
of  permanence  and  economy.  Concrete  building  units  more  readily 
meet  these  requirements  than  any  other  form  of  permanent  building 
unit. 

The  concrete  building  units  herein  referred  to  are  more  specifically 
defined  in  the  report  of  Sub-Committee  B.  This  report  treats  the  entire 
subject  of  houses  built  of  concrete  building  units  in  a  general  way  as 
the  details  are  fully  discussed  in  the  reports  of  the  various  Sub-Commit- 
tees which  follow. 

Committee  on  Concrete  Block  Houses 

R.   F.   Havlik,   Chairman,   Mooseheart,    111. 

E.  S.  Hanson,  Secretary.  Chicago 

George  Barriball,  Cleveland 

A.  L.  Benshoof,  Elliott,  Iowa 

Edw.  D.  Beyer,  New  York 

Gilbert  Cooper,  Joliet,  111. 

George  Cuozzo,  Bangor,  Me. 

Frank  Deni,  Mooseheart,  111. 

W.    J.    Deutsch,    Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

J.  C.  Donaldson,  Des  Moines 

S.  L.  Ekholm,  Cadillac,  Mich. 

E.  Fellabaum,  Toledo,  Ohio 
J.  E.  Freeman,  Chicago 

G.  M.  Friel,  Columbus,  Ohio 
W.  R.  Harris,  Chicago 
J.  K.   Harridge,  Chicago 
W.  G.  Kaiser,  Chicago 
H.  D.  Kerr,  Chicago 

F.  J.  Kinzinger,  Windsor,  Ont. 
H.  G.  Krum,  St.  Paul 

F.  M.  Leach,  Detroit 

Robert  Martin,  Lansing,  Mich. 

Urban  J.  Meuer,  Madison,  Wis. 

A.  C.  Newberry,  Cleveland 

A.  H.  Olmstead,  New  York 

E.   F.   Olsen,   Rock  Rapids,   Iowa 

Warren  A.  Rogers,  Cleveland 

George  Saffert,  New  Ulm,  Minn. 

Adolph  Schilling,  Haddon  Heights,  N.  J. 

J.  D.  Stoddard,  Detroit 

A.  G.  Swanson,  Omaha,  Nebr. 

M.  Wetstein,  Cincinnati 

L.  P.  Willsea,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

S.  F.  Wightman,  Detroit 


184  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


REPORT  OF  SUB-COMMITTEE  A— 

RECOMMENDED  PRACTICES  FOR  CONCRETE 

BLOCK  AND  TILE  CONSTRUCTION 

Tn  the  development  of  a  code  of  Recommended  Practice  the  follow- 
ing points  should  be  considered : 

1.  Specifications  and  building  regulations  for  concrete  block  and 

tile. 

2.  The  composition,  preparation  and  use  of  cement  mortars. 

3.  Types  of  mortar  joints  and  approved  thicknesses. 

4.  Water-proofing  of  foundation  walls  below  grade. 

5.  The  use  of  split  sills  and  lintels. 

6.  Suggestions   for  protecting  sills,   lintels   and   other  projecting 

portions  from  breakage  and  spattering  during  construction. 

7.  Methods  of  cleaning  the  wall. 

8.  Plastering  with  or  without  furring  and  lathing. 

Specifications  and  Building  Regulations 

Concrete  block  and  tile  used  in  house  construction  should  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  standard  specifications  and  building  regula- 
tions adopted  by  the  American  Concrete  Institute,  and  as  these  may  be 
amended  from  time  to  time.     These  are  as  follows : 

AMERICAN  CONCRETE  INSTITUTE  STANDARD  NO.  10 

Adopted  by  Letter  Ballot,  April  10,  1917 

Standard  Specifications  and  Building  Regulations  for   Concrete 
Architectural  Stone,  Building  Block  and  Brick 

1.  Concrete  architectural  stone,  building  block  and  tile  for  solid 
or  hollow  walls  and  concrete  brick  made  in  accordance  with  the  follow- 
ing specifications  and  meeting  the  requirements  thereof  may  be  used  in 
building  construction. 

2.  Tests.  Concrete  architectural  stone,  building  block  for  hollow 
and  solid  walls  and  concrete  brick  must  be  subjected  to  (a)  Compres- 
sion and  (b)  Absorption  tests.  All  tests  must  be  made  in  a  testing 
laboratory  of  recognized  standing. 

3.  Ultimate  Compressive  Strength,  (a)  Solid  concrete  stone^ 
building  block  and  brick.  In  the  case  of  solid  stone,  block  and  brick, 
the  ultimate  compressive  strength  at  28  days  must  average  not  less 
than  fifteen  hundred  (1,500)  lb.  per  sq.  in.  of  gross  cross-sectional  area 
of  the  stone  as  used  in  the  wall  and  must  not  fall  below  one  thousand 
(1,000)  lb.  per  sq.  in.  in  any  test. 

(h)  Hollow  and  two  piece  building  Mock.  The  ultimate  compres- 
sive strength  of  hollow  and  two  piece  building  block  at  28  days  must 
average  one  thousand  (1,000)  lb.  per  sq.  in.  of  gross  cross-sectional  area 
of  the  block  as  used  in  the  wall,  and  must  not  fall  below  seven  hundred 
(700)  lb.  per  sq.  in.  in  any  test. 

4.  Gross  Cross-Sectional  Areas,     (a)     Solid  concrete  stone,  block 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  185 

and  brick.    The  cross-sectional  area  shall  be  considered  as  the  minimum 
area  in  compression. 

(h)     Hollow  building  block.    In  the  case  of  hollow  building  block, 
I         the  gross  cross-sectional  area  shall  be  considered  as  the  product  of  the 
length  by  the  width  of  the  block.     No  allowance  shall  be  made  for  the 
air  space  of  the  block. 

(c)  Two  piece  building  block.  In  the  case  of  two  piece  building 
block,  if  only  one  block  is  tested  at  a  time,  the  gross  cross-sectional  area 
shall  be  regarded  as  the  product  of  the  length  of  the  block  by  one-half 
of  the  width  of  the  wall  for  which  the  block  is  intended.  If  two  block 
are  tested  together,  then  the  gross  cross-sectional  area  shall  be  regarded 
as  the  product  of  the  length  of  the  block  by  the  full  width  of  the  wall 
for  which  the  block  is  intended. 

5.  Absorption.  The  absorption  at  28  days  (being  the  weight  of 
the  water  absorbed  divided  by  the  weight  of  the  dry  sample)  must  not 
exceed  ten  (10)  per  cent  when  tested  as  hereinafter  specified. 

6.  Samples.  At  least  six  samples  must  be  provided  for  the  pur- 
pose of  testing.  Such  samples  must  represent  the  ordinary  commercial 
product.  In  cases  where  the  material  is  made  and  used  in  special  shapes 
and  forms  too  large  for  testing  in  the  ordinary  machine,  smaller  speci- 
mens shall  be  used  as  may  be  directed.  Whenever  possible  the  tests 
shall  be  made  on  full  sized  samples. 

7.  Compression  Tests.  Compression  tests  shall  be  made  as  fol- 
lows: The  samples  to  be  tested  must  be  carefully  measured  and  then 
bedded  in  plaster  of  paris  or  other  cementitious  material  in  order  to 
secure  uniform  bearing  in  the  testing  machine.  It  shall  then  be  loaded 
to  failure.  The  compressive  strength  in  pounds  per  square  inch  of 
gross  cross-sectional  area  shall  be  regarded  as  the  quotient  obtained 
by  dividing  the  total  load  applied  in  pounds  by  the  gross  cross-sectional 
area,  which  area  shall  be  expressed  in  square  inches  computed  according 
to  Article  4. 

When  such  tests  must  be  made  on  cut  sections  of  block,  the  pieces 
of  the  block  must  first  be  carefully  measured.  The  samples  shall  then 
be  bedded  to  secure  uniform  bearing,  and  loaded  to  failure.  In  this 
case,  however,  the  compressive  strength  in  pounds  per  square  inch  of  net 
area  must  be  obtained  and  the  net  area  shall  be  regarded  as  the  mini- 
mum bearing  area  in  compression.  The  average  of  the  compressive 
strength  of  the  two  portions  of  block  shall  be  regarded  as  the  compres- 
sive strength  of  the  samples  submitted.  This  net  compressive  strength 
shall  then  be  reduced  to  compressive  strength  in  pounds  per  square 
inch  of  gross  cross-sectional  area  as  follows: 

The  net  area  of  a  full  sized  block  shall  be  carefully  calculated  and 
the  total  compressive  strength  of  the  block  will  be  obtained  by  multiply- 
ing this  area  by  the  net  compressive  strength  obtained  above.  This  totsl 
gross  compressive  strength  shall  be  divided  by  the  gross  cross-sectional 
area  as  figured  by  Article  4  to  obtain  the  compressive  strength  in  pounds 
per  square  inch  of  gross  cross-sectional  area. 

When  testing  other  than  rectangular  block,  great  care  must  be 
taken  to  apply  the  load  at  the  center  of  gravity  of  the  specimen. 


186  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

8.  Absorption  Tests.  The  sample  shall  be  first  thoroughly  dried 
to  a  constant  weight  at  a  temperature  not  to  exceed  two  hundred  and 
twelve  (212)  degrees  Fahrenheit,  and  the  weight  recorded.  After 
drying  the  sample  shall  be  immersed  in  clean  water  for  a  period  of 
forty-eight  hours.  The  sample  shall  then  be  removed,  the  surface  water 
wiped  off,  and  the  sample  re-weighed.  The  percentage  of  absorption 
shall  be  regarded  as  the  weight  of  the  water  absorbed  divided  by  the 
weight  of  the  dry  sample  multiplied  by  one  hundred  (100). 

9.  Limit  of  Loading,  (a)  Hollow  walls  of  concrete  building 
block.  The  load  on  any  hollow  walls  of  concrete  block,  including  the 
superimposed  weight  of  the  wall,  shall  not  exceed  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  (167)  lb.  per  sq.  in.  of  gross  area.  If  the  floor  loads  are 
carried  on  girders  or  joists  resting  on  cement  pilasters  filled  in  place 
with  slush  concrete  mixed  in  proportion  of  one  (1)  part  cement,  not  to 
exceed  two  (2)  parts  of  sand  and  four  (4)  parts  of  gravel  or  crushed 
stone,  said  pilasters  may  be  loaded  not  to  exceed  three  hundred  (300) 
lb.  per  sq.  in.  of  gross  cross-sectional  area. 

(h)  Solid  walls  of  concrete  block.  Solid  walls  built  of  architec- 
tural stone,  block  or  brick  and  laid  in  portland  cement  mortar  or  hollow 
block  walls  filled  with  concrete  shall  not  be  loaded  to  exceed  three  hun- 
dred (300)  lb.  per  sq.  in.  of  gross  cross-sectional  area. 

10.  Girders  and  Joists.  Wherever  girders  or  joists  rest  upon  walls 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  cause  concentrated  loads  of  over  four  thousand 
(4,000)  lb.  the  block  supporting  the  girders  or  joists  must  be  made 
solid  for  at  least  eight  (8)  in.  from  the  inside  face  of  the  wall,  except 
where  a  suitable  bearing  plate  is  provided  to  distribute  the  load  over  a 
sufficient  area  to  reduce  the  stress  so  it  will  conform  to  the  requirements 
of  Article  9. 


Any  house  design,  whether  on  rigid  rectangular  or  gracefully  curved  lines,  can  be  worked  out 
successfully  with  concrete  block.  This  is  one  of  more  than  50  concrete  block  buildings 
at  Mooseheart  Industrial  Institute,  Mooseheart,  111. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


187 


One    vL    o49    concrete    block   houses    at   Morgan   Park,    Minn.,    built   by    the    Minnesota    Steel 
Company   for   the   housing   of   its   employes. 

When  the  combined  live  and  dead  floor  loads  exceed  sixty  (60) 
lb.  per  sq.  ft.,  the  floor  joists  shall  rest  on  a  steel  plate  not  less  than 
three-eighths  (f )  of  an  inch  thick  and  of  a  width  one-half  to  one  inch 
less  than  the  wall  thickness.  In  lieu  of  said  steel  plate  the  joists  may 
rest  on  a  solid  block  which  may  be  three  (3)  or  four  (4)  in.  less  in 
wall  thickness  than  the  building  wall,  except  in  instances  where  the 
wall  is  eight  (8)  in.  thick,  in  which  cases  the  solid  block  shall  be  the 
same  thickness  as  the  building  wall. 

11.  Thickness  of  Walls,  (a)  Thickness  of  bearing  walls  shall 
be  such  as  will  conform  to  the  limit  of  loading  given  in  Article  9.  In 
no  instance  shall  bearing  walls  be  less  than  eight  (8)  in.  thick.  Hollow 
walls  eight  (8)  in.  thick  shall  not  be  over  sixteen  (16)  ft.  high  for  one 
story  or  more  than  a  total  of  twenty-four  (24)  ft.  for  two  stories. 

(b)  Walls  of  residences  and  buildings  commonly  known  as  apart- 
ment buildings  not  exceeding  four  stories  in  height,  in  which  the  dead 
floor  load  does  not  exceed  sixty  (60)  lb.  or  the  live  load  sixty  (60)  lb. 
per  sq.  ft.,  shall  have  a  minimum  thickness  in  inches  as  shown  in 
Table  1. 

TABLE  I. 

First  Second  Third                Fourth 

No.  of               Basement                Story  Story  Story                  Story 

Stories                    in.                      in.  in,  in.                     in. 

1 8                         8  ..  .. 

2 10                          8  8  .. 

3 12                        12  10  8 

4 '...16                        12  12  10                          8 

12.  Variation  in  Thickness  of  Walls,  (a)  Wherever  walls  are 
decreased  in  thickness  the  top  course  of  the  thicker  wall  shall  afford  a 
solid  bearing  for  the  webs  or  walls  of  the  course  of  the  concrete  block 
above. 

13.  Bond  and  Bearing  Walls.  Where  the  face  wall  is  constructed 
of  both  hollow  concrete  block  and  brick,  the  facing  shall  be  bonded  into 
the  backing,  either  with  headers  projecting  four  (4)  in.  into  the  brick 
work,  every  fourth  course  being  a  header  course,  or  with  approved  ties, 
no  brick  backing  to  be  less  than  eight  (8)  in.  thick.    Where  the  walls 


188  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

are  made  entirely  of  concrete  block,  but  where  said  block  have  not  the 
same  width  as  the  wall,  every  fifth  course  shall  overlap  the  course  below 
by  not  less  than  four  (4)  in.  unless  the  wall  system  alternates  the  cross 
bond  through  the  wall  in  each  course. 

14.  Curtain  Walls.  For  curtain  walls  the  limit  of  loading  shall 
be  the  same  as  given  in  Article  9.  In  no  instance  shall  curtain  walls 
be  less  than  eight  (8)  in.  in  thickness. 

15.  Party  Walls.  Walls  of  hollow  concrete  block  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  party  walls  shall  be  filled  in  place  with  concrete  in  the  pro- 
portion and  manner  described  in  Article  9. 

16.  Partition  Walls.  Hollow  partition  walls  of  concrete  block 
may  be  of  the  same  thickness  as  required  in  hollow  tile,  terra  cotta  or 
plaster  block  for  like  purposes. 

MORTARS 

Unless  carefully  made,  mortar  joints  are  likely  to  be  the  weakest 
portions  of  a  concrete  block  or  tile  wall. 

The  essentials  of  a  good  mortar  joint  are: 

1.  It  should  be  dense  and  non-absorbent. 

2.  It    must    have    sufficient    compressive    strength    to    withstand 

designed  pressure  in  the  wall  without  crushing. 

3.  It  must  attain  strength  rapidly. 

4.  It  must  be  reasonable  in  cost  and  easily  obtainable. 

5.  It  must  possess  good  working  qualities. 

6.  It  should  be  of  good  appearance. 

7.  It  should  be  permanent. 

Portland  cement  mortar  meets  these  requirements  and  should  be 
specified  for  concrete  block  and  tile  wall  construction. 

INGREDIENTS  OF  PORTLAND  CEMENT  MORTAR. 

The  ingredients  of  portland  cement  mortar  are  portland  cement, 
sand  and  water.  Usually  a  limited  amount  of  hydrated  or  well-slaked 
lime  is  included.     (See  paragraph  on  ''Proportions".) 

Sand 

Sand  used  for  mortar  should  be  hard,  clean,  free  from  vegetable 
matter  and  contain  not  to  exceed  seven  (7)  per  cent  by  volume  of  clay 
or  loam.  The  particles  should  be  well-graded  and  range  in  size  from 
fine  up  to  those  which  will  just  pass  through  a  screen  having  4  meshes 
to  the  linear  inch.  Most  masons  prefer  that  the  coarse  particles  pre- 
dominate, claiming  that  coarse  sand  produces  a  more  workable  mortar. 
Sand  which  is  not  clean  should  be  washed  before  using. 

Cement 

Any  standard  brand  of  portland  cement  may  be  used  which  meets 
the  specifications  for  portland  cement  adopted  by  the  American  Society 
for  Testing  Materials.  Cement  should  be  kept  in  a  dry  place  until  used. 
Cement  which  jcontains  lumps  which  can  not  be  crushed  with  the  fingers 
should  not  be  used. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  189 

Water 

Water  should  be  clean,  free  from  acids  and  alkali.  In  general  it 
can  be  stated  that  water  which  is  fit  for  drinking  is  satisfactory  for 
cement  mortar. 

Lime 

Only  well-slaked  or  hydrated  lime  should  be  used.  Lime  is  added 
to  the  mortar  to  impart  to  it  better  working  qualities,  thereby  reducing 
the  cost  of  labor  in  laying  a  given  section  of  wall.  Care  should  be 
observed  not  to  add  more  lime  than  specified  in  the  paragraph  under 
"Proportions,''  otherwise  the  strength  of  the  mortar  may  be  materially 
diminished. 

Proportions 

Among  masons  there  is  a  wide  variation  in  the  ratio  of  cement  and 
sand  used  in  making  mortar;  some  prefer  as  rich  a  mixture  as  equal 
parts  of  cement  and  sand,  while  others  use  a  mortar  containing  three 
times  as  much  sand  as  cement.  A  proportion  of  1  sack  of  cement  to  2 
cubic  feet  of  sand  will  be  found  satisfactory  under  most  conditions. 
A  mixture  containing  in  excess  of  3  cubic  feet  of  sand  for  each  sack 
of  cement  is  not  recommended.  Hydrated  or  slaked  lime  may  be  added 
to  the  mortar  in  an  amount  not  to  exceed  25  per  cent  by  volume  of  the 
amount  of  cement  in  the  mixture. 

Mixing 

The  usual  method  is  to  mix  the  cement  and  sand  drj^  until  the 
resulting  mixture  is  uniform  in  color  and  of  like  character  throughout. 
Hydrated  lime  may  be  incorporated  in  the  mixture  simultaneously  with 
the  cement  and  sand.  "When  lime  putty  (slaked  lime)  is  used  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  dissolve  the  putty  to  a  creamy  consistency  in  water  and  then 
use  this  lime  water  when  mixing  the  mortar.  The  mortar  may  be 
either  mixed  by  hand  or  by  mechanical  means.  In  many  cases  hand 
mixing  is  practiced  as  the  workmen  can  readily  tell  when  the  mass  has 
acquired  the  proper  consistency  to  obtain  the  best  working  qualities. 
Only  as  much  water  should  be  added  as  will  after  thorough  mixing, 
produce  a  mixture  of  such  plasticity  as  will  work  to  best  advantage. 

It  is  best  to  mix  only  a  small  batch  of  mortar  at  a  time  (say  enough 
for  30  minutes  work).  Mortar  which  has  stiffened  must  not  be  remixed 
with  water  to  impart  to  it  workable  qualities  again.  This  process  is 
commonly  referred  to  as  "retempering"  and  should  not  be  permitted. 

Mortar  Colors 

Colored  mortars  have  never  become  very  popular.  For  high  class 
structures  the  natural  cement  colors  have  been  preferred.  None  but 
finely  ground  mineral  colors  should  be  used  for  making  colored  mortars. 
The  amount  which  may  be  used  should  never  exceed  10  per  cent  by 
weight  of  the  cement  in  the  mixture.  Extreme  care  should  be  taken  that 
successive  batches  of  mortar  contain  exactly  the  same  proportions  of 
cement,  sand,  coloring  matter  and  water,  otherwise  the  mortar  will  not 
be  uniform  in  color. 


190 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


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Flush  JO/NT 


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TuckPo/nt  Joint 


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Raked  Jojnt 


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Six  types  of  mortar  joints  commonly  used  in  laying  up  concrete  block,  brick  and  tile  units. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  191 

MORTAR  JOINTS 

TJiickness 

Mortar  joints,  both  horizontal  and  vertical,  should  average  f  inches 
in  thickness.    In  no  instance  should  the  joint  be  less  than  i  inch  thick. 

Applicatio7i 

A  good  bond  between  the  mortar  and  the  block  is  essential.  To 
accomplish  this  end,  mortar  should  be  applied  with  force.  For  best 
results  both  ends  of  the  block  should  be  buttered.  The  horizontal  or  sup- 
porting section  of  the  block  should  be  entirely  covered  with  mortar. 

Quite  a  number  of  styles  of  joints  are  in  common  use.  Among  these 
are: 

Flush  Joint  Tuck  Point  Joint 

Struck  Joint  No.  1  Raked  Joint 

Struck  Joint  No.  2  Concave  Joint 

The  Flush  joint  as  its  name  implies,  is  made  by  striking  the  mortar 
off  flush  with  the  wall  surface.  Except  where  the  block  are  to  be  cov- 
ered with  stucco,  the  flush  joint  is  not  recommended  because  of  its 
porousness  and  openness. 

Struck  Joint  No.  1  is  made  by  drawing  the  trowel  along  the  joint 
with  the  blade  resting  on  the  edge  of  the  block  below  the  joint.  In  mak- 
ing struck  joint  No.  2  the  operation  is  the  same  except  that  the  blade 
of  the  trowel  glides  on  the  edge  of  the  block  above  the  joint.  The  latter 
is  preferable  because  it  provides  a  more  weMher  proof  joint.  It  is  often 
called  a  weather  joint. 

The  Tuck  Point  Joint  is  seldom  used  and  it  not  recommended.  This 
joint  is  formed  by  a  special  tool  producing  a  joint  which  projects  be- 
yond the  wall  surface. 

The  Concave  Joint  is  made  by  drawing  a  pointing  tool  along  the 
joint  producing  a  concave  surface.  This  operation  compacts  the  mor- 
tar producing  a  dense  watertight  joint.  It  is  the  type  of  joint  recom- 
mended as  most  practical  for  concrete  block  houses  which  are  not 
intended  to  receive  a  stucco  finish. 

The  Raked  Joint  is  produced  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  Concave 
Joint.    Depth  should  not  exceed  ^  inch. 

WATERPROOFING  THE  FOUNDATION 

A  dry  basement  is  one  of  the  requirements  of  good  construction. 
When  the  site  on  which  the  house  is  to  be  located  does  not  have  good 
natural  drainage  it  is  best  to  waterproof  the  outsides  of  the  walls  below 
grade.  No  matter  how  much  care  is  exercised  in  making  concrete  block 
or  placing  them  in  the  wall  it  is  not  always  possible  to  obtain  absolutely 
watertight  construction. 

The  simplest  method  of  waterproofing  is  to  paint  the  wall  with  hot 
tar  or  asphalt.  When  this  method  is  adopted  the  precaution  must  be 
taken  to  have  the  wall  dry  as  these  materials  will  not  adhere  to  a  moist 
surface.  In  clay  or  other  waterbearing  soils,  lines  of  drain  tile  should  be 
laid  around  both  the  outside  and  inside  of  the  wall  footings  and  at  least 
6  inches  below  them  to  carry  off  excess  water.  These  tile  should  be 
connected  to  a  suitable  outlet  drain. 


192  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

Sills  and  Lintels 

To  make  sure  that  no  moisture  penetrates  the  walls  at  the  sills, 
lintels,  sill  courses,  lintel  courses  and  joist  courses  and  to  prevent  con- 
densation on  the  inside  walls  at  these  places,  all  exterior  building  trim 
should  be  of  two-piece  construction  to  provide  an  air  space  between  the 
inner  and  outer  sections.  The  space  between  the  inner  and  outer  sec- 
tions need  not  be  greater  than  ^  inch;  a  continuous  air  space  is  all 
that  is  required.  Each  division  of  lintel  should  be  reinforced  according 
to  standard  methods  to  carry  the  superimposed  load. 

Protection  of  Sills  and  Lintels  and  Other  Ornamental  Trim 

Much  of  the  beauty  of  ornamental  concrete  trim  may  be  easily  dis- 
counted by  damage  during  construction.  Adequate  protection  for  these 
parts  should  be  provided.  A  covering  of  building  paper  is  often  used. 
Where  the  trim  is  exposed  to  unusual  danger  it  should  be  boxed  in. 

Another  factor  which  contributes  to  making  a  structure  attractive 
is  clean  walls.  Workmen  should  be  cautioned  to  be  reasonably  careful 
not  to  spatter  the  walls  during  erection.  Any  mortar  which  becomes  at- 
tached  to  the  block  surface  should  be  removed  before  the  masons  leave 
the  job. 

When  the  mortar  has  become  firmly  bonded  to  the  wall  surface  it 
may  be  necessary  to  remove  it  with  an  acid  solution.  Muriatic  acid  di- 
luted with  water  as  required  should  be  used  for  the  purpose.  This  solu- 
tion is  usually  applied  with  a  stiff  brush  or  broom.  When  the  mortar  has 
been  removed,  the  acid  must  be  immediately  washed  off  the  wall  by 
scrubbing  or  flushing  with  water. 

Plastering  on  Block  with  or  without  Furring 

Some  concrete  block  enthusiasts  have  recommended  that  interior 
plaster  be  applied  directly  to  the  block  surface.  These  recommendations 
have  been  made  despite  the  fact  that  it  is  customary  to  fuir  out  the  plas- 
ter for  all  other  kinds  of  masonry  houses.  Furring  and  lathing  costs  only 
a  trifle  more  when  considering  the  total  cost  of  the  house  and  it  assures 
a  warmer  wall.  The  better  insulation  thus  provided  effects  a  consid- 
erable saving  in  coal  bills  and  provides  a  house  which  is  cool  in  summer. 
In  no  case  should  interior  plaster  be  applied  directly  on  the  concrete 
surface  unless  the  house  is  constructed  according  to  the  following 
specifications : 

The  wall  shall  be  constructed  of  two-piece  block  providing  a  con- 
tinuous air  space  from  the  footing  to  the  eaves  and  entirely  around 
the  building.  All  sills  and  lintels  shall  be  of  the  two  piece  type  and 
the  inner  and  outer  sections  shall  be  separated  so  as  to  provide  a  clear 
air  space  between  them.  The  outside  of  the  foundation  below  grade 
shall  be  waterproofed  as  hereinbefore  specified. 

Sub-Committee  A — Recommended  Practice  for  Concrete  Block  and  Tile 

Construction. 

R.  F.  Havlik,  Chairman 
W.  G.  Kaiser,  Secretary 
George  Barriball 
A.  L.  Benshoof 
W.  J.  Deutsch 
F.  J.  Kinzinger 
A.  H.  Olmsted 
:  J.  D.  Stoddard 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  193 


REPORT  OF  SUB-COMMITTEE  B— 
STANDARD  CONCRETE  BLOCK  AND  TILE  SIZES 

In  general,  all  block  and  tile  are  made  with  hollow  spaces  or  of 
two-piece  construction  so  as  to  secure  air  space  as  an  insulating  medium, 
lighter  weight,  and  to  realize  economy  in  materials. 

There  are  five  common  types  of  concrete  units. 

Solid  Units 

Concrete  Hollow  Block 
Concrete  Building  Tile 
Solid  Slab  Block 
Architectural  Concrete  Shapes. 

A  tabulation  of  sizes  of  block  and  tile,  as  now  manufactured,  is 
shown  in  Table  1.  The  name  of  the  manufacturer  is  followed  by  the 
width,  height  and  length  of  unit,  the  actual  size  of  the  block  or  tile 
being  given.  A  block  listed  as  8"  wide,  7J"  high,  and  15f "  long,  is  ordi- 
narily referred  to  in  practice  as  an  8"x8"xl6"  block.  These  units  are 
purposely  made  smaller  to  allow  for  the  mortar  joint  which  when 
added  to  length  and  height,  produces  a  unit  of  full  length  and  height. 

As  a  help  to  the  designer  in  determining  the  most  desirable  distance 
horizontally  between  doors  and  windows,  and  also  the  most  desirable 
widths  of  door  and  window  openings.  Table  II  has  been  prepared. 
Lengths  of  wall  sections  and  door  and  window  openings  should  be,  as 
far  as  possible,  multiples  of  quarter  block. 

Table  II  gives  the  length  of  wall  sections  of  from  one  to  eighteen 
units  by  ^  units.  Your  committee  believes  that  a  quarter  length  is  as 
small  a  fraction  of  a  unit  as  is  necessary  or  desirable  and  that  manu- 
facturers of  mold^  should  adapt  their  machines  and  furnish  suitable 
division  plates  for  making,  i,  ^  and  }  length  block.  By  careful  design 
it  is  often  possible  to  utilize  only  two  sizes  of  units — the  full  length 
and  the  half  length  units. 

The  purpose  of  Table  III  is  similar  to  that  of  Table  II.  It  is  in- 
tended to  help  the  designer  determine  the  most  suitable  height  for  door 
and  window  openings  and  other  vertical  wall  heights. 

To  explain  the  use  of  Table  II  and  III,  a  drawing  of  a  house  ele- 
vation is  presented.  The  distance  ''A"  corresponds  to  the  wall  lengths 
shown  in  Table  III  and  the  distance  *'B"  to  heights  specified  in  Table 
II.  The  purpose  of  both  tables  is  to  assist  the  designer  in  laying  out 
the  house  so  as  to  require  no  cutting  of  block  which  is  costly,  and  which 
unless  skillfully  done  produces  a  structure  of  unattractive  appearance. 
Both  tables  will  be  found  helpful  in  estimating  the  number  of  concrete 
units  for  a  particular  job. 

Corner  block,  joist  block,  sills,  lintels,  and  other  special  shapes 
should  be  furnished  by  the  concrete  products  manufacturer  so  as  to 
make  it  possible  for  the  constructor  to  erect  the  building  complete.  Noth- 
ing detracts  more  from  the  appearance  of  a  structure  than  poorly  made 
and  improperly  fitted  building  trim.     It  has  been  suggested  that  jamb 


194  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

TABLE   I 

STANDARD  CONCRETE  BLOCK  AND  TILE  SIZE 


Manufacturer  of  Mold 

Height,  Inches 

Width,  Inches 

Length,  Inches 

Anchor  Concrete  Machinery  Co 

Rock  Rapids,  Iowa 

7% 

8-9-10-11-12 

15%  &  23M 

Bradstad  Concrete  Machinery  Co 

Canton,  So.  Dak. 

7H 

10 

23^ 

The  Brandell  Co                 

IVa 

4-6-8-10-12 

\^y 

Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Ideal  Concrete  Machinery  Co 

IVa 

4-6-8-10-12 

isy-isy 

Cincinnati,  Ohio 

The  Hamilton  Concrete  Machinery  Co. 
Cleveland,  Ohio 

5 

4-6-8-12 

8-10-12 

The  Anchor  Cone.  Mach.  Co.  (Hobbs) . 
Columbus,  Ohio 

3  to  12  ins. 

3  to  12  ins. 

3  to  24  ins. 

The  Besser  Manufacturing  Co 

7K 

■  7^-9^-11^ 

15^ 

Alpena,  Mich. 

Flexo  Concrete  Mold  Co 

SH-1H 

8-10-12 

I5y-23H 

Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa 

Zagelmeyer  Cast.  Stone  Block 

Mach.  Co.,  Bay  City,  Mich. 

1% 

8-10-12 

15^-23^5 

The  Federal  Cement  Prod.  Co 

Cleveland,  Ohio 

5 

8>^-12>^-16>^ 

12 

The  Ferguson  Synstone  Co 

nH 

8-12 

23^ 

Denver,  Colo. 

The  Helm  Brick  Machine  Co 

Cadillac,  Mich. 

1H 

10 

23}i 

Hydro  Stone  Co.  Chicago     

d>H-ny& 

4>^  to  17 

23H 

The  Multiplex  Concrete  Mach.  Co 

Elmore,  Ohio 

^H-SH-lH 

8-10-12 

19^ 

Peters  Eastman  Greer  Co 

Indianapolis,  Ind. 

3  to  6  by  ins. 

7-10 

20 

Century  Cement  Machine  Co 

4  to  16  by  ins. 

4  to  20  by  ins. 

4  in.  to  6  ft. 

Rochester,  N.  Y. 

W.  E.  Dunn  Mfg.  Co 

7^ 

8-10-12 

iSH 

Holland,  Mich. 

Francis  Concrete  Machinery  Co 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

ly. 

8-10-12 

15H-233X 

The  Hayden  Auto  Block  Mach.  Co.  . . . 
Columbus,  Ohio 

iy 

4-6-8-10-12 

15H-19H-233X 

Northwestern  Steel  &  Iron  Wks 

Eau  Claire,  Wis. 

iy 

9-12 

23H 

The  Pettyjohn  Co 

iy 

7K 

\SH-\9y-23H 

Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

The  Republic  Iron  Works      

ly 

2^-8-10-12 

\SH 

Tecumseh,  Mich. 

Stewart  Mfg.  Co 

m 

8-10 

iSH 

Waterloo,  Iowa 

ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


195 


•ffl 


Elevation    of  House  Illustrat/nc?   Settjno 
OF  Concrete    Block, 

block  be  used  next  to  all  doors  and  windows  in  places  of  the  block  with 
an  ordinary  end. 

It  is  often  difficult  to  select  the  exact  size  of  block  or  tile  for  certain 
work.  There  are  many  factors  to  be  taken  into  consideration,  such  as 
nature  of  building,  size  of  wall  space,  weight  of  unit  and  architectural 
effect  desired.  Each  size  of  unit  has  its  particular  uses.  The  size  of 
joints  is  of  importance.  There  is  a  great  variation  in  this  respect  and 
the  general  feeling  of  your  committee  is  that  the  \"  joint  be  used,  and 
that  this  be  borne  in  mind  by  the  manufacturers  of  machines  and  molds 
so  that  equipment  for  making  block  and  tile  may  be  designed  accord- 
ingly. 

The  question  has  arisen  as  to  the  best  method  for  designating  sizes 
of  block,  and  your  committee  recommends  the  designation  of  height, 
width  and  length. 

Sub-Committee  B — Standard  Concrete  Block  and  Tile  Sizes. 

M.  Wetstein,  Chairman 
H.  D.  Kerr,  Secretary 
Gilbert  Cooper 
G.  M.  Friel 
F.  J.  Kinzinger 
F.  M.  Leach 
L.  P.  Willsea 


196 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


TABLE  II 

TABLE  SHOWING  RELATION  BETWEEN  NUMBER  OF  COURSES 

OF  CONCRETE  BLOCK  AND  TILE  AND  THE  HEIGHT  OF 

WALL  FORMED  BY  UNITS  OF  DIFFERENT  SIZES 


NUMBER  OF 
COURSES 

Height 

OF  Wall 

SECTION8  Formed 

3  In. 
Block 

4  In. 
Block 

5  In. 
Block 

6  In. 
Block 

8  In. 
Block 

9  In. 
Block 

10  In. 
Block 

12  In. 
Block 

1 

Ft.  In. 
0     3 

Ft.  In. 
0     4 

Ft.  In. 
0    5 

Ft.  In. 
0     6 

Ft.  in. 
0     8 

Ft.  In. 
0     9 

Ft.  In. 
0  10 

Ft.  In. 
1     0 

2 

0     6 

0    8 

0  10 

1      0 

1     4 

1      6 

1     8 

2     0 

3 

0     9 

1      0 

1    3 

1     6 

2     0 

2    3 

2     6 

3     0 

4 

1      0 

1    4 

1     8 

2     0 

2     8 

3     0 

3    4 

4     0 

5 

1      3 

1     8 

2     1 

2     6 

3    4 

3     9 

4    2 

5    0 

6 

1     6 

2    0 

2     6 

3     0 

4    0 

4    6 

5     0 

6    0 

7 

1     9 

2    4 

2  11 

3     6 

4    8 

5    3 

5  10 

7     0 

8 

2    0 

2    8 

3    4 

4    0 

5    4 

6    0 

6    8 

8    0 

9 

2    3 

3    0 

3    9 

4    6 

6     0 

6    9 

7    6 

9    0 

10 

2    6 

3    4. 

4    2 

5    0 

6     8 

7     6 

8    4 

10    0 

11 

2    9 

3     8 

4    7 

5     6 

7    4 

8    3 

9    2 

11     0 

12 

3    0 

4    0 

5    0 

6    0 

8    0 

9    0 

10    0 

12    0 

13 

3    3 

4    4 

5    5 

6    6 

8    8 

9    9 

10  10 

13    0 

14 

3    6 

4    8 

5  10 

7     0 

9    4 

10    6 

11     8 

14    0 

15 

3    9 

5     0 

6    3 

7     6 

10    0 

11     3 

12     6 

15     0 

16 

4    0 

5    4 

6    8 

8    0 

10    8 

12     0 

13    4 

16    0 

17 

4    3 

5     8 

7     1 

8    6 

11     4 

12     9 

14    2 

17     0 

18 

4    6 

6    0 

7     6 

9    0 

12    0 

13     6 

15    0 

18    0 

19 

4    9 

6    4 

7  11 

9    6 

12    8 

14    3 

15  10 

19    0 

20 

5    0 

6    8 

8    4 

10    0 

13    4 

15    0 

16    8 

20    0 

21 

5    3 

7    0 

8    9 

10    6 

14    0 

15     9 

17     6 

21     0 

22 

5    6 

7    4 

9    2 

11     0 

14    8 

16    6 

18    4 

22    0 

23 

5     9 

7     8 

9    7 

11     6 

15    4 

17     3 

19    2 

23    0 

24 

6    0 

8    0 

10    0 

12     0 

16    0 

18    0 

20    0 

24    0 

25 

6    3 

8    4 

10    5 

12     6 

16    8 

18    9 

20  10 

25    0 

26 

6    6 

8    8 

10  10 

13     0 

17    4 

19    6 

21     8 

26    0 

27 

0    9 

9    0 

11    3 

13    6 

]8    0 

20    3 

22    6 

27    0 

28 

7     0 

9    4 

11     8 

14    0 

18    8 

21     0 

23    4 

28    0 

29 

7    3 

9    8 

12     1 

14    6 

19    4 

21     9 

24    2 

29    0 

30 

7    6 

10    0 

12    6 

15    0 

20    0 

22     6 

25    0 

30    0 

31 

7    9 

10    4 

12  11 

15    6 

20    8 

23    3 

25  10 

31    0 

32 

8    0 

10    8 

13    4 

16    0 

21     4 

24    0 

26    8 

32    0 

TABLE   III 

TABLE   SHOWING  NUMBER  OF  BLOCK  REQUIRED  FOR  WALL 

SECTION  OF  VARIOUS  LENGTHS 


Number  of 
Block  and 
Fraction 
of  Block 

Length  of  Wall  Sections                                                      | 

12-INCH  Block 

16-INCH  Block 

20-INCH  Block 

24-iNCH  Block       | 

Feet 

Inches 

Feet 

Inches 

Feet 

Inches 

Feet 

Inches 

1 

1 

0 

1 

4 

1 

8 

2 

0 

IK 

1 

8 

2 

1 

2 

6 

VA 

1 

6 

2 

0 

2 

6 

3 

0 

m 

2 

4 

2 

11 

3 

6 

2 

2 

0 

2 

8 

3 

4 

4 

0 

2K 

3 

0 

3 

9 

4 

6 

2y. 

2 

6 

3 

4 

4 

2 

5 

0 

23A 

3 

8 

4 

7 

5 

6 

3 

3 

0 

4 

0 

5 

0 

6 

0 

3K 

4 

4 

5 

5 

6 

6 

3^2 

3 

6 

4 

8 

5 

10 

■     7 

0 

3K 

5 

0 

6 

3 

7 

6 

4 

4 

0 

5 

4 

6 

8 

8 

0 

ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


197 


TABLE  III— Continued 


Number  of 
Block  and 
Fraction 
of  Block 

Lenoth  f)F  Wall  Skctignu                                                      | 

12-iNCH  Block 

16-iN-CH  Block 

20-INCH  Block      | 

24-INCH  Block      | 

Feet 

Inches 

Feet 

Inchps 

Feet 

Inches 

Feet 

Inches 

414 

5 

8 

7 

1 

8 

6 

4y, 

4 

6 

6 

0 

7 

6 

9 

0 

4K 

6 

4 

7 

11 

9 

6 

5 

5 

0 

6 

8 

8 

4 

10 

0 

sy. 

7 

0 

8 

9 

10 

6 

5K 

5 

6 

7 

4 

9 

2 

11 

0 

5K 

7 

8       1 

9 

■7 

11 

6 

6 

6 

0 

8 

0 

10 

0 

12 

0 

t'A 

8 

4 

10 

5      1 

12 

6 

6K 

6 

6 

8 

8 

10 

10 

13 

0 

6K 

9 

0 

11 

3 

13 

6 

7 

7 

0 

9 

4 

11 

8 

14 

0 

7K 

9 

8 

12 

1 

14 

6 

7K 

7 

6 

10 

0 

12 

6 

15 

0 

73/< 

10 

4 

12 

11 

15 

6 

8 

8 

0 

10 

8 

13 

4 

16 

0 

8X 

11 

0 

13 

9 

16 

6 

8K 

8 

6 

11 

4 

14 

2 

17 

0 

8K 

11 

8 

14 

7 

17 

6 

9 

9 

0 

12 

0 

15 

0 

18 

0 

9K 

9 

3 

12 

4 

15 

5 

18 

6 

9K 

9 

6 

12 

8 

15 

10 

19 

0 

9K 

9 

9 

13 

0 

16 

3 

19 

6 

10 

10 

0 

13 

4 

16 

8 

20 

0 

lOX 

10 

3 

13 

8 

17 

1 

20 

6 

10>^ 

10 

6 

14 

0 

17 

6 

21 

0 

lOK 

10 

9 

14 

4 

17 

11 

21 

6 

11 

11 

0 

14 

8 

18 

4 

22 

0 

iiX 

11 

3 

15 

0 

18 

9 

22 

6 

iiK 

11 

6 

15 

4 

19 

2 

23 

0 

iiK 

11 

9 

15 

8 

19 

7 

23 

6 

12 

12 

0 

16 

0 

1      20 

0 

24 

0 

12X 

12 

3 

!       16 

4 

i      20 

5 

24 

6 

12K 

12 

6 

1       16 

8    , 

20 

10 

25 

0 

12K 

12 

9 

1       ^7 

0 

21 

3 

25 

6 

13 

13 

0 

1      17 

4 

21 

8 

26 

0 

13X 

13 

3 

17 

8 

22 

1 

26 

6 

13>.^ 

13 

6 

18 

0 

22 

6 

27 

0 

13H' 

13 

9 

18 

4 

22 

11 

27 

6 

14 

14 

0 

18 

8 

1      23 

4 

28 

0 

i4K 

14 

3 

19 

0 

1      23 

9 

28 

6 

14M 

14 

6 

19 

4 

24 

2 

29 

0 

14^/4 

14 

9 

19 

8 

24 

7 

29 

6 

15 

15 

0 

20 

0 

25 

0 

30 

0 

isy. 

15 

3 

20 

4 

25 

5 

30 

6 

15"^ 

15 

6 

20 

8 

25 

10 

31 

0 

15X 

15 

9 

21 

0 

26 

3 

31 

6 

16 

16 

0 

21 

4 

26 

8 

32 

0 

16K 

16 

3 

21 

8 

27 

1 

32 

6 

16^2 

16 

6 

22 

0 

27 

6 

33 

0 

16K 

16 

9 

22 

4 

27 

11 

33 

6 

17 

17 

0 

22 

8 

28 

4 

34 

0 

17^4 

17 

3 

23 

0 

28     . 

9 

34 

6 

17>^ 

17 

6 

23 

4 

29 

2 

35 

0 

17H 

17 

9 

23 

8 

29 

7 

35 

6 

18 

18 

0 

24 

0 

30 

0 

36 

0 

198 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Pretentious  residence  or  modest  bungalow,  regardless  of  size  or  style,  Portland  cement  stucco 
on  concrete  block  offers  a  practical,  permanent  and  economical  solution  of  any  housing 
problem.  Above,  stucco  on  concrete  block  residence  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  Below,  bungalow 
of  same  type  of  construction  in  a  suburb  of  Chicago. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  199 


REPORT  OF  SUB-COMMITTEE  C— 

BLOCK  SURFACE  FINISH  AND  STUCCO 

ON  BLOCK  AND  TILE 

The  future  success  of  the  concrete  unit  for  buildings  will  depend 
upon  the  appearance  of  the  unit  as  much  as  upon  its  strength.  As  a 
general  rule,  the  possibilities  of  the  looks  of  the  unit  have  been  a  minor 
consideration.  With  strength  fairly  well  standardized,  the  appearance 
must  be  improved  to  make  concrete  units  a  product  of  recognized  merit. 

For  best  appearance  concrete  units  should  not  be  made  in  patterns 
to  simulate  other  forms  of  masonry,  particularly  cut  stone,  but  should 
always  be  treated  as  a  separate  and  distinct  building  material  having  a 
surface  finish  peculiar  to  itself,  which  combines  the  beauty  of  natural 
stone  and  the  ease  of  cleaning  of  terra  cotta.  The  use  of  special  aggre- 
gates and  surface  finishes  opens  fields  for  concrete  block  and  tile  con- 
struction previously  untouched.  With  this  in  mind,  your  committee 
presents  the  following  suggestions  and  recommendations. 

Concrete  building  units  may  be  divided  into  three  distinct  groups 
according  to  use : 

1.  Interior  walls  and  partitions  and  'foundations  below  grade. 

2.  Exterior  finished  walls. 

3.  Exterior  walls  to  be  covered  with  portland  cement  stucco. 

CLASS  I. 

Block  and  tile  for  interior  walls,  partitions  and  foundations  below 
grade  require  no  special  surface  treatment. 

CLASS  II. 

For  all  units  which  will  form  the  finished  walls  of  the  building  and 
which  will  not  be  stuccoed,  it  is  recommended  that  some  special  surface 
treatment  be  given  to  expose  the  aggregates  and  add  to  the  beauty,  tex- 
ture and  variety  of  the  surface. 

The  aggregates  available  for  facing  concrete  units  offer  a  wide 
choice  and  variation  both  in  texture  and  color.  Among  the  aggregates 
that  may  be  used  are  screenings  from  different  colored  marbles  and 
granites,  river  and  lake  gravel,  feldspar,  micaspar  crystals  and  colored 
sands  In  order  to  produce  a  greater  color  contrast  than  is  obtained 
with  colored  aggregates  and  gray  portland  cement,  white  portland 
cement  mav  be  used.  Mineral  coloring  pigment  is  sometimes  mixed 
with  the  cement  but  it  is  not  to  be  recommended  for  general  use  because 
of  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  surfaces  comparable  in  appearance,  dur- 
ability and  economy  with  the  other  types  of  finish. 

Facing  Concrete  Block. 

Methods  for  applying  the  facing  vary  with  the  type  of  unit  and 
method  of  manufacture.  It  may  be  applied  face  down,  face  up  or  side 
face  by  methods  which  are  a  matter  of  common  knowledge  in  well 
equipped  plants  manufacturing  concrete  products. 


200 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


With  selected  aggregates  any  desired  texture  or  color  effect  may  be  secured  in  concrete  block. 
Variations  in  color  and  texture  of  block,  in  types  of  joints  and  in  color  and  design  of 
concrete  trimstone  give  the  builder  of  a  concrete  block  house  great  latitude  in  the  working 
out  of  individual  ideas  in  architectural  effects. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  201 


EXPOSING  AGGREGATES. 

Exposure  of  the  aggregate  can  be  accomplished  in  various  ways. 
Among  the  methods  used  are  binishing  or  scrubbing,  acid  washing,  water 
spraying,  tooling  and  rubbing. 

Brushing  or  Scrubbing. 

Brushing  and  scrubbing  should  be  done  while  the  concrete  is  still 
green  but  sufficiently  hardened  so  that  particles  of  the  aggregate  will 
not  be  removed.  For  this  purpose  water  and  a  brush  with  stiff  fibre 
bristles  are  used :  when  the  concrete  has  become  too  hard,  a  little  muri- 
atic acid  should  be  added  to  the  water.  Any  surface  treated  with  acid 
must  afterwards  be  thoroughly  washed  with  clean  water  to  remove  all 
traces  of  the  acid. 

Acid  Wash. 

The  surface  may  be  washed  with  dilute  muriatic  acid,  applied  with 
an  ordinary  scrubbing  brush  and  then  thoroughly  washed  with  clean 
Avater  to  remove  all  traces  of  the  acid.  In  some  instances  it  has  been 
found  more  economical  to  dip  the  unit  in  an  acid  bath  instead  of  apply- 
ing the  acid  by  hand. 

The  strength  of  the  solution  will  depend  upon  the  age  and  hard- 
ness of  the  concrete  but  generally  varies  from  3  to  6  parts  of  water  to  1 
part  of  acid  for  scrubbing  purposes  and  as  strong  as  1  to  1  for  dipping. 

Water  Spraying. 

This  is  done  with  a  fine  vapor  spray  as  soon  as  the  product  is 
made.  The  outlet  holes  should  be  about  the  size  of  a  pin  and  a  water 
pressure  of  at  least  40  pounds  is  required  to  give  good  results.  The 
washing  must  be  carefully  done  so  as  not  to  Avash  away  the  facing 
material.  Spraying  is  necessarily  confined  to  products  removed  from 
the  molds  as  soon  as  made. 

Tooling. 

Block  may  be  tooled  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  used  in  treating 
natural  stone,  the  process  consisting  of  chipping  or  roughening  the 
surface  with  a  bush-hammer,  chisel,  or  other  hand  or  power  tool.  When 
colored  aggregates  are  used  in  the  concrete,  a  pleasing  and  beautiful 
texture  may  be  secured.  This  method,  hoAvever,  is  more  costly  than  the 
various  methods  of  surface  finish  previously  mentioned. 

For  tooling,  the  concrete  should  be  well  hardened  and  at  least  three 
Aveeks  old,  but  better  results  may  be  obtained  by  Avaiting  until  it  is 
six  or  eight  weeks  old.  After  about  three  months  the  concrete  becomes 
so  hard  as  to  make  tooling  difficult.  It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  ages 
mentioned  above  are  only  approximate  as  methods  of  manufacturing 
and  curing  the  unit  Avill  have  a  great  effect. 

Rubbing. 

With  certain  aggregates,  such  as  marble  or  granite,  rubbing  Avill 
impart  to  concrete  units  a  polish  much  the  same  as  the  original  stone. 
After  the  concrete  has  hardened,  it  is  rubbed  Avith  a  concrete  brick, 


202  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

carborundum  stone,  or  other  commercial  abrasive  material  or  finished 
on  a  rubbing  bed  or  ''stone  table"  such  as  used  at  marble  plants,  etc. 

CLASS  III  {Portland  Cement  Stucco). 

Concrete  block  and  tile  laid  in  portland  cement  mortar  are  particu- 
larly well  adapted  to  serve  as  a  backing  for  portland  cement  stucco 
because  they  are  composed  of  the  same  class  of  material  as  the  stucco 
itself  and  afford  an  excellent  bonding  surface.  For  portland  cement 
stucco  finish  the  block  or  tile  should  be  rough  and  of  coarse  texture 
but  not  weak  or  friable. 

In  applying  stucco  to  block  or  tile  the  joints  should  be  raked  out 
or  cut  back  at  least  flush  with  the  face  of  the  waU ;  no  projections  should 
be  left.  The  wall  should  be  brushed  free  from  all  loose  particles  and 
wet  down  and  should  be  moist  at  the  time  the  stucco  is  applied ;  if  dry, 
moisture  is  absorbed  from  the  stucco  and  a  weak  finish  is  the  result; 
if  too  wet,  a  film  of  water  prevents  a  proper  bond. 

The  committee  adopts  as  a  part  of  this  report  the  "Recommended 
Practice  for  Portland  Cement  Stucco"  as  published  by  the  Portland 
Cement  Association. 

Sub-Committee  C — Block  Surface  Finish  and  Stucco  on  Block  and  Tile. 

Edw.  D.  Boyer,  Chairman 
J.  E.  Freeman,  Secretary 
J.  K.  Harridge 
H.  G.  Krum 
A,  C.  Newberry 
M.    Wetstein 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION  203 


REPORT  OF  SUB-COMMITTEE  D— 
TRIMSTONE  AND  BUILDING  ORNAMENTS 

Editor's  Note: — At  a  meeting  of  Sub-Committee  D  of  the  Commit- 
tee on  Concrete  Block  Houses,  members  of  the  Committee  were  so 
impressed  by  an  account  which  Adolph  Schilling,  Chairman  of  the 
Sub-Committee,  gave  of  his  experiences  in  the  manufacture  of  concrete 
trimstone  and  building  ornament,  that  the  Committee  was  unanimous 
in  its  opinion  that  no  better  Committee  Report  could  be  presented 
than  to  have  Mr.  Schilling  set  down  his  experiences  as  related  to  the 
Committee.  That  is  the  reason  for  the  following  matter  being  pre- 
sented in  a  form  other  than  the  usual  committee  report  style. 

Fifteen  years  ago,  when  I  undertook  to  make  concrete  attractive 
and  pleasing  to  the  eye,  I  accepted  as  definitely  settled,  the  claim  that 
concrete  was  strong  and  enduring.  Since  then  my  researches  and 
experiments  have  been  devoted  entirely  to  developing  the  attractive  and 
artistic  possibilities  of  concrete  and  thereby  make  it  interesting  to  the 
architect  as  a  medium  for  embellishing  his  designs. 

Twenty  years  of  practical  experience  working  with  the  natural 
stones  used  in  monumental  and  building  work,  enabled  me  to  appreciate 
the  conditions  that  must  be  met  to  give  concrete  a  place  beside  lime- 
stones, marbles,  granites  and  clay  products,  in  which  architects  had 
expressed  their  thoughts  almost  exclusively. 

Building  Trim 

After  proving  to  my  satisfaction  that  cast  stone  could  be  made 
successfully,  it  required  considerable  missionary  work  to  convince  the 
architect  of  its  merits  and  advantages  as  a  medium  to  enrich  design 
and  to  take  a  place  largely  held  by  terra-cotta,  natural  stones,  etc. 

In  the  making  of  concrete,  after  once  thoroughly  understanding 
the  qualities  of  cement  as  a  binder,  one  can  learn  to  adapt  many  mineral 
products  for  use  as  aggregates  in  combination  with,  or  in  substitution 
for,  the  more  common  sand,  pebbles  or  crushed  stone. 

The  many  examples  of  cast  stone  executed  during  recent  years, 
are  ample  proof  that  the  confidence  of  pioneers  in  the  manufacture  of 
high  grade  concrete  products  was  well  founded.  Cut  cast  stone  has 
been  specified  by  progressive  architects  for  high  grade  buildings  every- 
where. Now  that  the  field  has  been  opened,  it  rests  with  the  indi\adual 
to  convince  the  architect,  engineer  and  contractor  that  standard  con- 
crete products  are  what  he  wants,  whether  it  is  for  the  foundation  or 
for  ornamentation.  It  should  be  our  purpose  to  establish  cooperation 
that  offers  dependable  concrete  products  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
the  building  trade  in  quality  and  quantity. 

Methods  of  Manufacture 

In  the  manufacture  of  concrete  trimstone  and  building  ornaments 
in  our  plant,  we  have  successfully  used  plaster,  glue,  wood,  sand,  ce- 
ment and  steel  molds.  A  kind  of  mold  which  we  use  extensively  is  made 
of  channel  irons  from  2  to  18  inches  wide  and  from  4  to  B  feet  long. 
If  set  on  level  tables  or  benches,  the  main  part  of  a  mold  is  provided 


204 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Trimstone,  whether  of 
simple  or  ornamental 
design,  has  long  been 
successfully  made  of 
concrete.  By  using  se- 
lected aggregates,  it  is 
possible  to  produce  any 
desired  color  effect  to 
harmonize  with  the  main 
part  of  the  structure. 
During  construction 
trimstone  should  be 
boxed  in,  as  shown  at 
right  to  prevent  it  from 
being  defaced  or  spat- 
tered with  mortar. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  205 

that  offers  great  latitude  in  use.  The  channel  irons  are  held  together 
by  rods  of  different  lengths.  Wood  or  plaster  inserts,  plain  or  molded, 
determine  the  width,  length  and  design  of  the  unit  to  be  cast.  The 
work  is  poured  with  finished  face  down  and  can  be  solid  or  hollow.  It 
may  be  surfaced  with  special  material  on  any  one  side  or  on  all  sides 
if  the  volume  of  the  product  makes  it  more  economical  to  use  a  core 
of  concrete  containing  less  expensive  aggregates. 

Some  excellent  work  has  been  done  by  artists  modeling  directly 
with  cement  mortar.  Most  of  these  workers  have  attained  their  skill  in 
this  abroad.  The  most  important  work  of  this  kind,  to  my  knowledge, 
is  a  heroic  group  of  the  Crucifixion  standing  at  Lynn,  Mass.  In  this 
method  of  molding  or  modeling,  the  artist  builds  up  his  design  with  a 
permanent  skeleton  framework  similar  to  when  modeling  in  clay. 
Around  this  skeleton  he  forms  a  rough  outline  of  his  design  in  wire 
cloth  or  expanded  metal  and  on  this  places  a  scratch  coat  of  cement 
mortar.  When  this  begins  to  harden,  he  models  the  final  outline  of  his 
design.  By  varying  the  mixtures  so  as  to  in  some  degree  control  the 
setting  of  the  cement,  he  can  give  the  work  the  same  freedom  and 
spirit  as  if  modeled  in  clay,  and  by  using  colored  pigments  of  various 
shades,  can  produce  practically  any  color  effect  desired. 

Treating  Surfaces 

In  our  plant  we  use  electrical  rubbing  wheels  for  smooth  finish, 
acid  for  a  grained  texture  and  all  of  the  tools  used  in  the  natural  stone 
trade  for  tooled  finishes,  according  to  the  effect  desired.  Any  one  or 
all  treatments  may  be  used  on  one  piece.  We  have  portable  rubbing 
and  tooling  machines  to  surface  extra  heavy  castings  and  stationary^ 
machines  for  smaller  units.  A  cutting  plant  for  natural  stone  is  an 
ideal  foundation  to  start  an  up-to-date  cut  cast  stone  business,  even 
to  its  rubbing  beds  and  gang  saws. 

Concrete  of  proper  age  can  be  treated  just  like  any  natural  stone 
and  it  is  my  conviction  that  the  success  of  concrete  stone  for  building 
purposes  rests  in  a  close  affiliation  of  the  stone  cast  and  the  stone  cutter. 
Only  in  this  way  will  we  be  able  to  give  concrete  proper  texture  and 
the  necessary  qualities  of  dimension  stone,  so  essential  to  the  architect 
and  builder  for  attractive  and  durable  construction. 

For  six  years  my  concrete  stone  and  natural  stone  plants  in  Albanv 
wore  under  one  roof  and  I  found  that  such  conditions  were  ideal  for 
the  production  of  a  first-class  composite  stone  of  proper  size  and  finish. 
The  addition  of  a  skilled  stone  cutter  to  every  concrete  products  plant 
would  be  a  source  of  profit  and  also  result  in  better  work.  The  stone 
cutter  is  trained  to  have  dimension  stone  true  to  size  and  shape.  The 
average  worker  in  cement  or  concrete  does  not  appreciate  this  essential 
point,  but  it  is  all-important  with  the  architect  and  general  con- 
tractor. It  has  taken  many  years  to  bring  the  craft  of  dressing  natural 
stone  to  its  present  efficiency.  The  progressive  concrete  products  man 
should  study  these  methods  and  benefit  bv  the  experience  of  the  trade 
whose  product  he  must  equal  or  better,  if  he  is  to  secure  the  approval 
and  patronage  of  the  architect. 

To  the  manufacturer  or  worker  with  concrete  products,  I  recom- 


206 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


i1^  1 


Entrances  constructed  of  concrete  trim- 
stone  improve  the  appearance  of  the  build- 
ing, whatever  its  type.  With  selected, 
exposed  aggregates  harmonizing  or  con- 
trasting  color   effects  can  be  obtained. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  207 

mend  the  adoption  of  such  methods  as  are  applied  successfully  in  other 
lines  of  manufacture  in  treating  the  surfaces  of  other  products.  In 
many  cases  instead  of  applying  paint  by  brush,  the  article  to  be  coated 
is  immersed  in  the  paint.  This  method  can  be  adapted  to  acid  washing 
of  concrete  products  to  remove  the  surface  film  of  cement  and  expose 
the  aggregates.  Tanks  of  sufficient  size  are  not  difficult  to  build  in 
the  concrete  shop,  and  immersing  products  in  acid  solution  instead  of 
scrubbing  in  the  usual  way  will  result  in  a  great  saving  of  labor  and 
acid  and  produce  a  class  of  work  that  cannot  be  obtained  in  any  other 
manner.  In  our  plant  we  have  two  rectangular  tanks,  4  by  4  by  16 
feet,  built  of  cement  slabs  grooved  and  bolted  together,  and  six  circular 
wood  tanks  7  feet  in  diameter  and  from  2  to  4  feet  deep. 

Concrete  should  be  from  two  to  three  weeks  old  before  treating  in 
an  acid  bath.  Duration  of  time  in  the  bath  depends  upon  age  of  the 
product  and  whether  rough  or  fine  texture  is  desired.  The  time  may 
range  from  1  to  10  hours;  a  weak  solution  of  1  to  20  up  to  1  to  10  is 
required.  After  the  article  is  put  in  the  tank,  the  solution  does  the 
rest.  This  method  of  treatment  preserves  the  edges  and  details  of  the 
design  and  makes  the  surface  uniform.  Any  hard  spots  not  sufficiently 
affected  by  the  acid  bath  can  be  separately  treated  after  the  article 
has  been  flushed  with  clean  water.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  aggre- 
gates are  nearly  uniform  in  hardness,  or  the  acid  will  eat  soft  portions 
out  before  the  cement  coating  has  been  removed  from  the  harder  par- 
ticles. I  have  had  some  very  fine  work  spoiled  because  to  obtain  a  certain 
effect,  I  had  mixed  black  marble  and  crushed  granite.  The  acid  bath 
left  only  holes  where  the  black  marble  had  been,  while  the  granite 
showed  fine  texture  and  natural  color.  To  secure  the  black  grain  effect 
we  now  use  copper  slag. 

Colored  Concrete 

To  secure  certain  color  effects,  we  use  gray  or  white  portland  cement 
alone  or  mixed  in  certain  proportions  with  the  natural  colored  aggre- 
gates, sand,  silica,  pebble  grit,  marble,  granite,  etc.,  adding  if  desired 
suitable  color  pigments.  It  requires  great  skill  and  care  to  properly 
mix  cement  and  color  pigments  to  obtain  uniform  color  effects  "without 
reducing  the  strength  of  the  concrete.  The  importance  of  mixing  the 
pigment  thoroughly  with  the  cement  before  adding  aggregates  should 
be  fully  appreciated.  As  a  simple  test  to  determine  thorough  mixing 
of  cement  and  pigment,  a  handful  of  the  dry  mixture  may  be  pressed 
under  a  sheet  of  stiff  paper.  If  small  specks  of  color  show  on  the 
surface  after  the  paper  has  been  removed,  it  indicates  mixing  is  incom- 
plete. Such  specks  of  unincorporated  pigment  will  appear  in  the  finished 
concrete. 

The  absorptive  qualities  of  concrete  during  the  period  of  hardening 
offer  opportunities  to  color  products  by  capillary  action.  In  this  method 
the  color  is  deposited  in  the  pores  of  the  surface.  The  possibilities  of 
this  treatment  are  unlimited,  based  on  knowledge  of  coloring  values  and 
good  judgment — to  prevent  impairing  the  strength  of  the  concrete. 

Coloring  solutions  can  be  made  to  penetrate  concrete  6  inches  or 
more  if  the  object  is  immersed  while  in  a  very  green  state,  but  it  is 
rarely  necessary  to  attempt  a  penetration  of  more  than  from  1/32  to 


208 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Detail  of  entrance  to  a  private  estate,  near  Washington,  D.  C.  The  aggregate  is  crushed  quartz 
of  light  bulf  color,  heightened  by  occasional  spots  of  red  and  green.  Note  the  sharpness 
of  the  arrises  and  mouldings. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  209 

i  of  an  inch  as  this  fills  surface  pores,  gives  the  desired  color  effect  and 
is  less  expensive.  The  sulphates  of  copper  and  iron  are  the  most  suit- 
able treatments  for  solutions  to  color  concrete  by  capillarity.  The  con- 
crete to  be  colored  can  be  treated  after  it  is  a  week  old. 

Concrete  products  used  in  construction  where  they  must  display 
load  carrying  capacity  should  not  be  subjected  to  the  coloring  bath  until 
the  concrete  has  attained  its  required  strength,  because  the  filling  of  the 
pores  retards  the  progress  of  curing  by  the  usual  methods.  Coloring  by 
absorption  is  effective  on  concrete  surfaces  just  as  they  come  from  the 
mold,  or  after  they  have  been  treated  with  tools.  Surfaces  that  have 
been  colored  by  absorption  of  mineral  or  metallic  colors  become  more 
weatherproof  and  the  action  of  the  weather  on  the  metallic  salts  is  the 
same  as  on  real  metals,  increasing  the  beauty  of  coloring  by  the  usual 
oxidization  noticed  on  bronze  and  copper.  Concrete  surfaces  treated 
by  this  method  become  so  dense  and  hard  that  they  will  take  a  polish. 
We  have  treated  such  surfaces  in  the  same  manner  as  marble,  granite 
and  metal,  on  polishing  or  buffing  machines. 

Such  products  as  flower  pots,  vases  and  flower  boxes,  which  we 
make  by  the  wet  cast  method,  will  hold  water  the  second  day  after  cast 
and  soon  become  so  hard  that  when  struck  with  a  hammer  they  ring 
like  a  metal  bell.  Waterproofing  compounds  may  help,  but  we  do  not 
regard  them  as  essential.  Rather,  we  consider  that  the  thorough  mixing 
of  the  proper  amount  of  cement  and  water  with  graded  aggregates  is 
all-important. 

Extensive  tests  made  during  tlie  past  three  years  with  commercial 
waterproof  paints  showed  excellent  results.  Common  concrete  can  be 
made  very  attractive  by  one  or  two  coats  applied  stipple  fashion.  This 
will  not  impair  the  grain  or  texture  and  does  not  produce  the  notice- 
able effect  of  painted  stone.  The  method  is  especially  to  be  recom- 
mended for  dry  or  semi-dry  tamped  concrete,  as  the  porous  surface 
readily  absorbs  the  paint  and  allows  the  pigment  particles  to  fill  the 
pores.  The  color  effects  obtained  in  this  way  are  most  economical;  the 
color  is  uniform  but  lacks  the  richness  and  depth  of  shading  that  re- 
sults from  immersion  in  a  bath  of  metallic  salts.  It  has  the  advantage, 
however,  of  being  applicable  where  immersion  is  not  practicable.  We 
have  obtained  two  and  three  color  effects  by  painting  certain  parts  of 
an  object  before  subjecting  it  to  the  coloring  bath.  The  part  so  colored 
would  not  be  affected  by  the  bath. 

The  artistic  possibilities  of  such  treatment  are  limited  only  by  the 
color  sense  and  taste  of  the  craftsman.  If  certain  nonabsorptive  aggre- 
gates are  used,  their  natural  color  can  be  retained,  while  parts  that  are 
absorptive,  especially  the  cement  mortar,  will  take  the  desired  color. 
In  this  treatment  precaution  should  be  taken  in  the  use  of  acids  in 
washing  before  immersion  in  the  color  bath,  as  the  chemical  action  of 
the  acids  is  likely  to  counteract  the  color  values  of  the  bath.  Long 
practice  and  tests  will  give  the  experience  necessary  to  gain  the  full 
benefit  of  this  process.  I  have  spent  nearly  ten  years  to  obtain  present 
results. 

In  the  matter  of  surface  finish,  considerable  headway  has  been  made 
and  most  of  the  methods  are  well  known  to  progressive  concrete  workers. 


210  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

Any  surface  treatment  is  preferable  to  leaving  the  concrete  as  it  comes 
from  the  mold. 

Curing 

Most  of  our  trimstone  and  ornamental  work  is  wet  cast.  It  must 
set  in  the  mold  from  24  to  48  hours.  We  use  a  4  per  cent  solution  of 
calcium  chloride  for  mixing  water.  During  cold  weather  our  shops 
are  steam  heated  and  kept  at  a  temperature  of  70  degrees.  We  have 
no  curing  rooms,  but  for  quick  curing  use  high-pressure  steam  in 
cylinders  6  feet  in  diameter  and  70  feet  long.  We  have  commercially 
verified  the  tests  made  some  years  ago  by  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards 
and  reported  in  Technologic  Paper  No.  5.  While  these  tests  do  not 
exceed  80  pounds  pressure,  we  have  hardened  concrete  up  to  150  pounds 
pressure  with  the  result  that  concrete  two  days  old  could  be  tooled  under 
rapidly  rotating  carborundum  wheels,  cutting  even  aggregates  without 
pulling  out  or  fraying  the  edges.  Compression  tests  showed  strengths 
over  4,000  pounds  per  square  inch  at  two  days  age  and  absorption  less 
than  5  per  cent.  The  higher  the  steam  pressure,  the  less  time  required  to 
harden.  With  150  pounds  we  reduced  the  time  to  4  hours ;  but  no  port- 
land  cement  concrete  product  should  be  subjected  to  high  pressure  steam 
curing  until  it  has  taken  its  initial  set.  Steam  curing  should  start  pref- 
erably the  day  following  casting. 

Tamped  concrete  should  be  kept  moist  until  it  goes  into  the  cyl- 
inder. As  the  initial  expense  of  equipment  and  operating  is  considerably 
higher  than  curing  rooms,  only  units  that  lend  themselves  to  com- 
pletely filling  the  cylinder  space  can  be  hardened  economically.  At  pres- 
ent prices  it  costs  about  $20  to  harden  a  volume  equal  to  900  cubic 
feet.  The  cost  of  a  cylinder  of  the  size  mentioned  is  about  $6,000 
installed.  These  should  be  used  in  pairs  to  allow  utilizing  steam  blow- 
off  from  one  cylinder  to  the  other  after  curing  is  finished. 

Sub-Committee  D — Trimstone  and  Building  Ornaments. 

Adolph   Schilling,   Chairman 

J.  C.  Donaldson,  Secretary 

George  Cuozzo 

Frank  Deni 

Robt.  Martin 

Geo.  Saffert 

A.  G.  Swanson 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION 


211 


One  of  the  features  of  the  National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction  was  an 
attractive  exhibit  of  photographs,  drawings  and  models  of  concrete  houses.  Concrete 
garden  furniture  contributed  to  the  comfort  and  interest  of  the  visitors. 


212  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

REPORT  OF  SUB-COMMITTEE    E— 
CONCRETE  BLOCK  PLANTS  AND  EQUIPMENT 

Location 

The  most  suitable  location  for  any  plant  can  be  dietermined  only 
after  due  consideration  has  been  given  to  both  the  market  in  which  the 
products  will  be  sold  and  the  availability  of  materials,  the  most  weighty 
of  which  is  the  aggregate.  Where  a  plant  is  to  have  a  comparatively 
large  capacity  it  will  usually  be  found  economical  to  locate  the  plant 
near  the  source  of  the  aggregate,  when  freight  rates  on  finished  product 
permit  of  such  a  location  on  an  economical  basis. 

Materials 

Availability  of  materials  is  based  upon  the  assumption  that  ma- 
terials are  either  locally  available  or  that  they  may  be  economically 
shipped  in  by  rail  or  other  method  of  transportation.  Where  it  is  possi- 
ble to  locate  a  plant  at  the  site  of  aggregate,  rail  haul  on  aggregate  is 
of  course  eliminated.  The  operator  of  the  products  plant,  however, 
should  compare  freight  charges  on  finished  products  for  a  plant  located 
at  the  aggregate  pit  or  other  location  which  makes  the  aggregate  readily 
obtainable,  with  the  cost  of  transporting  raw  materials  to  a  plant  near 
the  center  of  a  market.  It  is  usually  not  advisable  to  locate  a  concrete 
products  plant  midway  between  the  source  of  raw  materials  and  the 
center  of  the  selling  market  as  the  combined  freight  charges  on  raw  ma- 
terials and  the  finished  products  will  probably  be  greater  than  where 
the  plant  is  located  at  either  the  source  of  raw  material  or  at  the  mar- 
ket. When  plants  are  located  at  midway  points,  double  handling  of 
cars  is  necessary  while  at  plants  located  at  the  site  of  aggregate,  only 
the  out-bound  cars  hauling  finished  products  need  be  handled. 

These  suggestions  are  made  without  reference  to  freight  on  portland 
cement  as  this  commodity  constitutes  only  about  25  per  cent  of  the  total 
tonnage.  In  the  manufacture  of  concrete  products  any  location  must 
be  such  that  all  factors  including  water,  labor,  fuel  and  incidentals  are 
readily  procurable. 

Plant  Layout 

Ample  space  should  be  provided  so  that  materials  and  products  can 
be  handled  with  ease  and  dispatch.  The  space  should  allow  for  expan- 
sion of  the  business  as  often  concrete  products  plants  expand  to  several 
times  their  original  size.  In  general,  a  plant  should  consist  of  receiving 
facilities,  manufacturing  room,  curing  rooms,  storage  space  and  ship- 
ping facilities. 

Receiving  Facilities 

Materials  as  used  in  the  greatest  volume,  follow  in  their  respective 
order,  aggregate,  cement,  water  and  fuel.  Aggregate  may  be  received 
in  some  form  of  horse  drawn,  or  motor  propelled  truck  or  in 
cars  or  barges.  Therefore,  the  method  of  unloading  aggregate  will 
depend  upon  the  method  of  transportation.  At  present  time  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  dump  truck  loads  of  aggregate  over  a  grizzly  through  which 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  213 

the  aggregate  will  drop  into  a  hopper  feeding  into  a  bucket  elevator, 
which  elevates  the  aggregate  to  bins,  preferably  placed  overhead  so  that 
the  material  may  be  fed  to  the  mixers  by  gravity.  Where  material  is 
received  in  hopper  bottomed  cars  a  receiving  pit  should  be  constructed 
under  the  railroad  track  so  the  cars  may  be  unloaded  by  gravity.  If 
material  is  received  in  gondola  cars  it  is  customary  to  unload  with 
shovels  and  to  throw  the  material  into  the  boots  of  the  elevator  or  con- 
veyor. This  method  is  wasteful  of  labor  and  if  the  concrete  products 
plant  is  sufficient  in  size  the  use  of  a  power  crane  with  a  clamshell  bucket 
enables  unloading  material  more  economically  and  quickly.  The  same 
crane  may  be  used  to  build  up  storage  piles  of  aggregate.  These  storage 
piles  provide  a  reserve  supply  for  winter  work  after  pits  are  closed, 
or  in  case  of  a  temporary  emergency  like  a  car  shortage.  Provisions 
should  be  made  for  economical  movement  of  this  material  from  piles  to 
the  working  bins. 

Material  Storage  Space 

Enough  space  should  be  provided  for  the  storage  of  materials  to 
keep  the  plant  in  operation  over  an  estimated  period  of  non-delivery 
of  materials.  This  period  will  vary  from,  say  a  week  in  the  open  season 
such  as  a  delay  caused  by  car  shortage,  or  it  may  extend  over  several 
weeks  or  months  during  the  winter  season  when  pits  in  many  localities 
are  closed. 

Manufacturing  Rooms 

The  plant  should  be  designed  in  such  a  way  that  the  least  travel 
will  be  caused  in  handling  raw  materials  and  finished  products.  In 
general,  raw  materials  should  be  received  either  at  one  end  or  side  of 
the  plant  and  travel  in  the  shortest  direct  line  from  the  storage  bins, 
through  mixers,  machines,  curing  rooms,  storage  yards  and  thence  to 
cars  or  trucks  for  delivery.  Machines  should  be  placed  in  such  relation 
to  each  other  that  materials  may  be  conveyed  from  the  storage  bins  to 
the  mixer  with  the  least  labor  and  by  the  simplest  system  of  handling 
practicable. 

Finished  Products 

Ordinarily  the  delivery  of  materials  to  the  mixer  is  either  by  gravity 
or  with  mechanical  equipment.  Concrete  may  be  delivered  by  gravity 
or  mechanical  means  to  the  molding  machines.  Finished  products  should 
be  delivered  to  storage  rooms  by  one  of  two  methods,  namely,  racks 
which  may  be  handled  by  jack-lift  trucks  or  industrial  cars  on  narrow 
gage  tracks.  Any  other  mechanical  method  of  handling  which  may  be 
on  the  market  now  or  which  may  later  be  placed  on  the  market  should 
be  considered  on  its  merits  and  compared  with  the  two  suggested. 
Cured  products  should  be  conveyed  from  curing  rooms  to  the  storage 
yards  or  storage  rooms  by  one  of  the  methods  suggested  above  for 
handling  fresh  products. 

Curing 

The  method  of  curing  should  be  such  as  to  produce  proper  hydra- 
tion of  the  cement. 


214  PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 

Machinery  and  Placement 

Machinery  will  consist  of  conveyors,  concrete  mixers,  concrete 
products  machines,  boilers,  power  units  such  as  gas  engines,  steam  en- 
gines, electric  motors,  industrial  cars,  racks  and  jack-lift  trucks.  Elimi- 
nation of  belting  and  shafting  is  advisable  and  the  use  of  individual 
motor  drives  is  recommended.  This  will  promote  safe  plant  opera- 
tion. It  will  also  lessen  the  possibility  of  a  total  shut  down  such  as 
would  be  caused  by  the  breaking  of  a  main  belt  or  a  main  shaft.  Motors 
should  be  placed  in  the  safest  and  most  practicable  location.  When 
bought  attached  to  the  machines  the  manufacturers  in  most  cases  will 
have  the  motors  properly  located. 

Concrete  Mixers 

Concrete  mixers  should  have  ample  capacity  to  provide  concrete 
for  all  of  the  products  machines.  It  is  recommended  that  mixers  be 
placed  above  the  products  machine  so  the  concrete  can  be  delivered 
by  gravity.  Products  machines  should  be  of  good  type  and  suitable 
to  the  requirements  of  the  business.  They  should  be  placed  on  substan- 
tial concrete  foundations,  as  the  use  of  such  foundations  result  in 
smoother  operation  and  longer  life  of  equipment.  In  the  use  of  indus- 
trial cars,  track  should  be  carefully  laid  true  to  line  and  grade.  Where 
racks  and  jack-lift  trucks  are  used  smooth  level  concrete  floors  should 
be  provided  in  machine  and  curing  rooms  and  concrete  runways  should 
be  provided  in  the  storage  yard. 

Conveying  Machinery 

Where  possible,  it  will  be  advisable  to  obtain  conveying  machinery 
from  manufacturers  of  established  reputation  who  will  furnish  and  in- 
stall such  equipment. 

Boilers 

Where  steam  curing  is  used  boilers  should  be  of  such  size  and  type 
as  will  furnish  the  required  amount  of  steam  without  overloading.  The 
steam  capacity  should  be  sufficient  to  cure  the  products  and  heat  the 
building.  The  size  of  the  boiler  will  vary  with  the  size,  number  and 
type  of  construction  of  the  steam  curing  rooms.  It  is  recommended  that 
a  small  curing  room  be  provided  for  concrete  trim  or  special  units.  In 
general,  it  is  advisable  to  obtain  the  services  of  competent  engineers  to 
design  and  supervise  the  layout  of  concrete  products  plants. 

Sub-Committee  E — Concrete  Block  Plants  and  Equipment. 

W.  R.  Harris,  Chairman 
W.  A.  Rogers,  Secretary 
Gilbert  Cooper 
S.  L.  Ekholm 

E.  Fellabaum 

F.  M.  Leach 
U.  J.  Meuer 
E.  F.  Olsen 

S.  F.  Wightman 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  215 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  CONCRETE  AND 
CEMENT  ROOFINGS 

Introductory 

In  presenting  the  following  report  on  concrete  roofing  tile  and  ce- 
ment asbestos  shingles,  your  Committee  desires  to  call  attention  to  the 
great  need  for  a  wider  use  of  fire  resistive  roof  coverings.  It  is  estimated 
by  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  that  of  the  23,203  dwelling 
house  fires  reported  in  1917,  which  caused  aggregate  losses  of  more  than 
$66,000,000,  that  over  20  per  cent  were  caused  by  the  ignition  of  irdlam- 
mable  roofs.  Concrete  roofing  tile  and  cement  asbestos  shingles  are  the 
most  fire  resistant  types  of  roofing  known,  thereby  contributing  to  the 
safety  of  property  and  occupants  of  dwellings  by  eliminating  the  most 
hazardous  fire  exposure  to  which  dwelling  houses  are  subjected. 

Concrete  roofing  tile  and  cement  asbestos  shingles  are  moderate 
in  first  cost  and  susceptible  of  most  pleasing  architectural  development. 

The  selection  of  roofing  is  one  of  the  most  important  problems  con- 
fronting the  architect  as  it  so  largely  determines  the  appearance  of  the 
dwelling.  The  wide  variety  of  types  and  colors  readily  available  in 
these  types  of  roofing  make  possible  a  selection  of  designs  of  rugged 
effect,  casting  bold  shadows  where  advisable.  This  variety  is  of  a 
special  value  where  a  number  of  houses  are  to  be  built  of  similar  material 
or  general  design  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Without  altering  the  struc- 
tural features  below  the  roof-line,  the  architect  can,  by  the  exercise 
of  taste  and  ingenuity,  so  vary  the  designs  and  shades  of  roofs  on  adja- 
cent houses  that  the  monotony  so  noticeable  in  many  large  housing  devel- 
opments is  largely  avoided. 

Concrete  Koofing  Tile 

Concrete  roofing  tile  are  composed  essentially  of  portland  cement 
and  suitable  aggregates.  They  should  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
American  Concrete  Institute  Proposed  Standard  Specifications  for  the 
Manufacture  of  Concrete  Roofing  Tile,  Standard  No.  22,  and  suggested 
addenda  as  embodied  herewith  under  ''Specifications.'/ 

They  are  generally  produced  in  standard  size  of  9  3/16  inches  by 
14J  inches,  over  all  dimensions.  Their  weight  is  approximately  5^  pounds 
each.  One  hundred  and  fifty  tile,  are  required  per  square  of  100  square 
feet  which  weigh  when  applied  in  place,  about  825  pounds.  They  are 
usually  furnished  with  double  side  lock  for  efficient  exclusion  of  weather. 
Owing  to  their  accurate  plane  surfaces  and  freedom  from  warpage,  3 
inch  end  lap  is  sufficient  for  good  construction. 

They  are  commonly  furnished  in  standard  colors  of  red,  green, 
brown  and  natural  gray  and  can  be  furnished  in  various  other  special 
shades,  if  desired.  Standard  details  such  as  ridges,  hip  rolls,  gable 
starters,  gable  finishers  and  finials  are  regularly  furnished  by  manu- 
facturers. 

Concrete  tile  roofs  are  permanent  requiring  no  maintenance  ex- 
pense and  are  practically  indestructible.     They  improve  with  age  and 


216 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


l/a/ley  PI 
break  to  form 


bedm  ^/afers 
cemerff 


Gob/e 


Tjrpical  construction  details  of  concrete  tile  roof. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION  217 

are  exceeded  in  durability  by  no  other  known  material.  Joints  between 
the  tile  permit  expansion  and  contraction  thus  eliminating  danger  of 
destruction  due  to  temperature  changes.  They  are  unique  in  the  high 
salvage  value  afforded,  in  event  of  wreckage  or  alteration  of  structures 
on  which  they  are  placed.  Concrete  tile  are  permanently  attractive, 
their  surface  being  smooth  and  non-absorptive ;  they  do  not  discolor. 

Concrete  roofing  tile  are  moderate  in  first  cost.  The  reduction  in 
insurance  premiums,  will  much  more  than  pay  for  the  interest  on  the 
additional  investment  over  less  fireproof  roofings.  Their  rich  and  sub- 
stantial appearance  enhances  the  sale  value  of  the  house  on  which  they 
are  applied,  by  several  times  their  total  cost. 

They  reduce  fuel  consumption  in  winter  and  assist  in  keeping  a 
house  cool  in  summer,  the  dead  air  space  between  sheathing  and  tile 
being  a  most  efficient  insulator. 

Their  uniform  size  and  true  surface  render  it  possible  to  erect  them 
more  rapidly  and  economically  than  any  other  roofing  tile  product  and 
has  led  to  their  favorable  recognition  by  labor.  They  have  been  approved 
as  loan  risks  by  financial  interests. 

Recommended  Practice  for  Building  on  Which  Concrete  Roofing 
Tile  Are  Applied 

Rafters  should  be  not  less  than  2  by  6  inches  on  20-inch  centers. 

The  use  of  collar  or  tie  beams  is  recommended.  Roof  sheathing 
should  be  shiplapped,  at  least  1-inch  material,  well  seasoned  and  closely 
laid. 

Gable  facia  or  barge  rafter  should  be  placed  with  top  edge  IJ  inch 
above  roof  sheathing  to  come  flush  with  top  of  nailing  strip. 

Flashing  and  sheet  metal  work  should  be  in  place  before  tile  laying 
is  commenced.  Aprons  and  counterflashing,  under  which  felting  extends 
should  be  raised  3  inches  for  proper  laying  of  felt. 

Specifications  for  Concrete  Roofing  Tile 

Concrete  roofing  tile  shall  be  furnished  and  applied  in  accordance 
with  the  following  specifications.  American  Concrete  Institute,  Stand- 
ard No.  22 — Proposed  Standard  Specifications  for  the  Manufacture  of 
Concrete  Roofing  Tile  and  addenda  as  follows: 

1.  These  specifications  apply  to  concrete  roofing  tile  aproximately 
9  by  15  inches  over  all. 

2.  Concrete  roofing  tile  meeting  the  requirements  of  these  speci- 
fications may  be  used  in  building  construction. 

3.  Concrete  Roofing  tile  must  be  subjected  to  load  test. 

Tests  shall  be  made  on  full  size  samples.  At  least  10  samples  must 
be  provided  for  the  purpose  of  testing  and  must  represent  the  ordinary 
commercial  product. 

4.  The  breaking  load  shall  average  not  less  than  150  lb.  per  tile 
when  the  load  is  applied  in  accordance  with  the  method  described  below. 
Lots  of  tile  intended  for  building  construction  may  be  rejected  if  more 
than  10  per  cent  of  the  samples  tested  break  at  loads  of  less  than  100 
pounds. 


218 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


5.  Tile  shall  be  tested  with  weather  face  up.  The  tile  shall  be 
supported  under  the  lugs  near  the  ends  if  the  tile  have  lugs  and  in  no 
event  shall  the  span  be  less  than  13  inches.  The  support  under  one  end 
shall  be  rigid  and  the  support  under  the  other  end  shall  rest  on  a  roller 
bearing  to  allow  for  variation  in  the  under  surface  of  the  tile. 

The  load  shall  be  applied  in  the  center  of  the  tile  by  placing  a  rigid 
bar  having  a  semi-circular  bearing  across  the  tile  midway  between  the 


/P/a'i 


ifjl 


Concrete  roofing  tile.    Detail  showing  end  view  and  side  lock. 

points  of  support.  From  this  cross-bar  shall  be  suspended  a  bucket-like 
receptacle  which  shall  be  loaded  with  shot,  sand  or  other  suitable  mate- 
rial until  the  tile  breaks.  The  method  of  loading  is  shown  in  the  accom- 
panying diagram. 

6.  Portland  cement  shall  be  used  in  the  manufacture  of  concrete 
roofing  tile  and  shall  meet  the  requirements  of  the  current  Standard 
Specifications  for  portland  cement  adopted  by  the  American  Society  for 
Testing  Materials. 

7.  Aggregates  used  in  the  manufacture  of  concrete  roofing  tile 
shall  be  of  such  a  nature  as  will  produce  the  quality  of  the  tile  required 
by  these  specifications — and  the  following  addenda: 

Absorption  of  concrete  roofing  tile  shall  not  be  more  than  6  per 
cent  in  48  hours.  They  shall  not  be  warped  more  than  ^  inch  from  plane 
surface  and  shall  not  vary  more  than  1/16  inch  in  thickness. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


219 


Concrete  roofing  tile  shall  be  laid  in  accordance  with  the  following 
specifications:  Over  the  sheathing,  lay  approved  12  lb.  or  heavier,  tile 
felt  roofing  paper,  laid  parallel  to  eaves.  Felt  shall  be  lapped  not  less 
than  half  the  width  of  the  sheet  on  every  course.  An  extra  ply  of  felt 
shall  be  laid  next  the  eaves.  Cap  all  hips  longitudinally  with  extra  ply 
of  felt  at  least  12  inches  wide.  In  valleys,  lay  one  extra  ply,  full  sheet 
wide,  longitudinally.  Where  felt  extends  against  vertical  walls,  same 
shall  be  carried  at  least  6  inches  on  vertical  surface  under  counter 
flashing. 

The  roof  shall  be  watertight  after  applying  the  felt.     The  roofer 


Bec/P/c/oe  Jn 
Co/orecrPort/ond 
Cement  i?/?c/  Point 
neot/y  ot/tssfde^ 


P/c/ge  Po/I 


V 


1^4 


;t^ 


iP^ 


C^ 


.% 


nt 


^< 


•eP 


er 


;tr' 


Concrete  roofing  tile.    Typical  cross  section  of  roof. 

shall  install  valley  plates  as  furnished,  cut  and  broken  to  fit,  by  the 
sheet  metal  contractor  in  accordance  with  illustration  attached  hereto. 

Over  felting  lay  3/16  inch  strips  on  18-inch  centers  from  eave  to 
ridge.  Nailing  strips  fxlf  inches  shall  be  nailed  above  lath  (see  sketch). 
The  roof  shall  be  accurately  laid  out  with  rule  and  chalk  line  by  the 
roofer  and  when  finished,  courses  shall  present  a  straight  and  uniform 
appearance  when  viewed  vertically,  horizofitally  or  diagonally.  All  hip 
and  ridge  roll  shall  be  laid  accurately  and  bedded  in  1 :3  portland  cement 
mortar  (see  detail)  colored  to  match  balance  of  roof  with  approved 
mineral  color.  The  roofer  shall  guarantee  his  work  to  be  watertight  and 
remain  so  for  a  period  of  5  years  from  date  of  completion  and  to  replace 
any  defective  tile  or  tiles  appearing  during  this  period. 

Your  Committee  recommends  that  in  view  of  the  extensive  and 
rapidly  increasing  use  of  concrete  roofing  tile,  that  the  immediate  de- 


220 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


velopment  of  automatic  machinery  for  producing  these  shapes  econom- 
ically be  strongly  encouraged.  There  is  immediate  need  for  such  ma- 
chinery. 

The  use  of  steam  in  curing  the  tile  assists  very  materially  in  pro- 
ducing high  grade  products  and  the  use  of  this  method  should  be  insisted 
upon  by  users. 

We  also  recommend  that  manufacturers  be  encouraged  to  investi- 
gate the  use  of  light  weight  aggregates  in  view  of  determining  their 
suitability  in  developing  roofing  tiles  retaining  all  of  the  architectural 
and  structural  features  embodied  in  the  present  product  and  of  minimum 
weight. 

We  also  note  that  the  establishment  of  erection  and  service  depart- 
ments by  reputable  manufacturers  has  become  well-nigh  universal  and 
we  recommend  that  this  policy  be  encouraged. 

Cement  Asbestos  Shingles 

Cement  asbestos  shingles  are  composed  essentially  of  portland  ce- 
ment and  asbestos  fibre,  about  75  per  cent  of  the  content  being  portland 
cement.  They  are  of  Austrian  invention,  and  large  amounts  of  capital 
and  effort  have  been  expended  in  perfecting  their  commercial  produc- 
tion. We  believe  full  credit  is  due  Dr.  Richard  V.  Mattison  of  Ambler, 
Pa.,  for  his  efforts  in  this  field. 


Copper  cJi/3  noi/ec/  fo  ridge- re»J/  Ont/  ridge-po/e, 
ready  for  nextp/ece  of  ndge  -  ro/^        £9.?^Pfr .  *^''^..  ^f^  ^/?*_ 
Two  M/c/r/t&sses  6f  Wofer-proofJ^^  ^^^^^    -^^"^^    •x<'C'~>ao^-- 
Poper  oyer  a//  A/pI  '^rtdjjl 
Ridges  for  o  dK 
about  Jo  mches 

Lap  Water-pro^ 
at  /eost  -4  /nchi 
Holes  for  Gol^a, 

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Storm  Not/ 


Sf>inq/es  project 

of  /roof  Boards. 


A    i    A ;,  A I    A    ■ A i    rt     I    A — i_zi — I — *     I    t 

Copper  Storm- naiil  ben*  dottm  over  ttp  of  H^Jshmale. 
y\^    Copper  storm-nail  resting  o/i*tS  starter  beloWi  t/ie poinf projecting 
/>A        [^       p:^  to  rece..e  ^/  Shirf^te.         ^^/^ 

The  four  St^nytes  oi.otty  employed  ,n  t/,e  Tre^MetAod.  ^he  cost  rr,oy  be  sorr,e^t,ot  reduced 

by  otrntt/n^  the  i^sf  Sferter-  This  necessitotes 
moy//tff  t/te  M£  starter  ctot¥/f  /o  ftie  edge 
of  roof  f/it/s  co/np/efe/y  corer/trg  fhe 
i^  4  Starter. 
Cement  asbestos  shingles.     Details  of  roof  construction,  French  or  diagonal  method. 

After  exceptionally  thorough  mixing,  which  is  accomplished  in 
machines  somewhat  resembling  pulp  beaters  commonly  used  in  paper 
mills,  the  pulpy  mixture  of  cement  and  asbestos  is  dropped  on  a  wide 
moving  felt  conveyor,  whence  it  is  conveyed  between  heavy  rollers  to 
a  pressure  roll  on  which  successive  layers  are  wrapped.  The  material  is 
thus  built  up  in  plies.  When  the  desired  thickness  is  reached,  the  sheets, 
still  wet,  are  cut  off  and  run  through  a  cutter  where  the  shingles  are 
cut  into  uniform  sizes.  A  number  of  other  operations  are  performed, 
the  shingles  being  pressed  to  remove  the  bulk  of  the  moisture  and  pro- 
duce a  smooth  surface.     They  are  then  seasoned,  trimmed  and  drilled. 

Cement  asbestos  shingles  are  approximately  3/16"  thick.  They 
average  in  weight  about  435  lbs.  per  square  (100  square  feet)  for  the 
American  type  and  about  275  lbs.  per  square  for  the  French  or  diagonal 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


221 


type.  They  are  made  in  a  variety  of  shades  and  are  commonly 
furnished  in  standard  colors  of  grey,  red,  brown,  dark  slate  and 
green.  They  are  available  in  various  shapes — commonly  furnished  in 
rectangular  and  diamond  shaped  shingle  forms.  The  application  of 
these  shingles  is  so  simple  that  any  carpenter  skilled  in  applying  wooden 
shingles,  or  any  roofer,  can  apply  them  in  minimum  time,  as  all  nail 
holes  are  punched  in  asbestos  shingles  during  the  course  of  manufac- 
ture. 

Methods  of  applying  these  shingles  are  illustrated  in  the  accom- 
panying sketches.  The  first  shown  is  the  French  or  diagonal.  The 
second,  the  American,  or  straight-laid  method.  The  diagonal  method  is 
much  cheaper,  as  it  does  not  require  as  many  shingles  per  square,  more 
of  the  surface  being  exposed  than  in  the  American  method.     However, 


^5""^^^  Z 

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Mill 

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^^^^^^ 

r-       I'i'i'lVl     1     1      1     1     1     1     1 

^^=^^X 

r-       1     1     1     1      1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1 

^^=^^^:^            r- 

■       1     I     1      1           1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1 

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I'i'i'i'l'           'I'l     1     1     1      1     1 

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1    1    1    1    1        1        L  1    1    1    1    1    1 

^^&          r' 

nil     1     1     II     1 

II     (III 

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'I'i'i'i'i'l      1     1     1     1     1     1     1     1 

Cement   asbestos    shingles.     Details    of   roof   construction,   American    or   straight-laid    method. 

the  diagonal  method  does  not  afford  nearly  the  same  opportimity  for 
architectural  development  that  the  straight-laid  method  does. 

Long  experience  has  proven  the  fact  that  asbestos  shingles  give 
very  pleasing  effects  not  only  to  the  more  expensive  residences,  but  also 
to  working  men's  houses,  and  group  dwellings.  The  White-Haven 
Sanitarium  at  Mt.  Alto,  Pa.,  used  asbestos  shingles  on  every  building 
not  only  for  roofing,  but  for  siding  as  well.  The  United  States  Grovern- 
ment  has  also  seen  fit  to  utilize  them  at  the  West  Higham,  Mass., 
Naval  Base,  where  they  used  60  carloads  of  asbestos  shingles  for  the 
roofing  and  siding  of  their  magazine  buildings,  thus  fireproofing  the 
entire  structures,  which  is  of  paramount  importance  in  this  class  of 
building. 

Committee  on  Concrete  and  Cement  Roofings 

D.    Helmuth,    Chairman,   Cleveland 
E.  L.  Stephani,  Secretary,  Chicago 
Fred  Beaven,  Chicago 
W.  H.  Crume,  Dayton,  Ohio 
W.  J.  Carmichael,  Willoughby.   Ohio 
W.  M.  Frey,  Ambler,  Pa. 
Mathew  Gunton,  Newcastle,  Pa. 
J.  H.  Wooling,  Indianapolis,  Ind. 


222  PROCEEDINOS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


ORGANIZATIONS  WHICH   HELD   JOINT    SESSIONS 

WITH  THE  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE  ON 

CONCRETE  HOUSE  CONSTRUCTION 

American  Concrete  Institute 

Associated  General  Contractors  of  America 

Building  OUicials  Conference 

Concrete  Block  Machinery  Association 

Concrete  Mixer  Association 

Concrete  Products  Association 

Concrete  Roofing  Tile  Association 

Western  Association  of  Concrete  Laundry  Tray  Manufacturers 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


223 


REGISTRATION  LIST 

National  Conference  on  Concrete  House  Construction 

February  17,  18  and  19,  1920 

Auditorium  Hotel,  Chicago 


Abrams,  D.  a. 

Professor  in  Charge,  Structural  Ma- 
terials Research  Lraboratory,  Lewis 
Institute,  Chicago. 

Affleck,  B.  F. 

President,  Universal  Portland  Ce- 
ment Co.,  Chicago. 

AxBEBTs,  Charles 
Warsaw,  111. 

Allan,  W.  D.  M. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 

Allen.   Leslie  H. 

Fred  T.  Ley  &  Co.,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Allen,  0.  T. 
American  Steel  &  Wire  Co.,  Chicago. 

Allen,  R.  E. 
Chicago. 

AixisoN,  L.  J. 

Architect,  Chicago. 

Anderson,  F.  S. 

Building  Commissioner,  Evanston, 
111. 

Anderson,  W.  R. 

Ash  Grove  Lime  &  Portland  Cement 
Co.,  Wichita,  Kans. 

Andrews.  E.  L. 

General  Agent,  Underwriters*  Labo- 
ratories, Chicago. 

Angevine,  R.  C. 

General  Contractor  and  Products 
Manufacturer,  Coldwater,  Mich. 

Armsby,  Sidney  P. 

National  Lime  Association,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. 

Armstrong,  Eliot 

Lackawanna  Steel  Co.,  Lackawanna. 
N.  Y. 

Arthur,  G.  B. 

Sales  Manager,  Waterloo  Construc- 
tion Machinery  Co.,  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

Ashton.  Ernest 

Chemical  Engineer,  Lehigh  Portland 
Cement  Co.,  Allentown,  Pa. 

Atwell,  H.  H. 

Bailey  &  Atwell,  Engineers  &  Con- 
tractors, Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

Babb,  W.  E. 
Chicago  Evening  Post,  Chicago. 

Ball,   C.  B. 

Chief  Sanitary  Inspector,  Depart- 
ment of  Health,  Chicago. 


Bakbazette,  J.  H. 

Lehigh    Portland    Cement   Co.,    Chi- 
cago. 
Barnes,  H.  C. 

The    Progressive    Farmer,    Birming- 
ham, Ala. 
Barnett,  Edgar  G. 

The    Giest    Building    Material    Co., 

Cleveland. 
Barriball,  George  D. 

Concrete      Products      Manufacturer, 

Cleveland. 
Bartlett,  Geo.  S. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Bayle,  Geo.  F.,  Jr. 

Glens    Falls    Portland    Cement    Co., 

Glens  Falls,  N.  Y. 
Beaven,  Fred 

Universal  Roofing  Tile  Co.,  Chicago. 
Behleb,  Charles  J. 

Contractor,  Oregon,  111. 
Beidelman,  a.  H. 

Contractor,  Naperville,  111. 
Benson,  Chas. 

New  Castle   Double  Wall   Co.,   New 

Castle,  Pa. 
Benson,   Ivan  W. 

Millars  Timber  &  Trading  Co.,  Lon- 
don, England. 
Benson,   Jno.   M. 

Secretary,  New  Castle  Double  Wall 

Co.,  New  Castle,  Pa. 
Benson,  Newton  D. 

Providence,  R.  I. 
Bentley,  Thomas 

A.   Bentley  &   Sons  Co.,   Toledo. 
Berns,  Max  A. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Bertsch,  Clarence  V. 

Bertsch  Bros.,  Richmond,  Ind. 
Besser,  E.,  M.D. 

Remington,    Ind. 
Beyenka,  T.  J. 

Coal  Saving  Products  Co.,  Chicago. 
Bickelhaupt,  F.  R. 

Geo.  Rackle  &  Sons  Co.,  Cleveland. 
Bilhorn,  Geo. 

Branch   Manager,   Phoenix   Building 

Society,  Chicago. 

B  J  AMDAHL,   R.    G. 

Moline  Cast  Stone  Co.,  Moline,   111. 


224 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Blair.   Milton  J. 

Curtis  Publishing  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Bley,  H.  G. 

Waterloo     Construction     Machinery 
Co.,  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

BOBEAN,   L.  M. 

Lakewood    Engineering    Co.,    Cleve- 
land. 
Bond,  B.  H. 

Huntington    Concrete    Products    Co., 
Huntington,  Ind. 
BoNHAM,  Jas.  a. 

Cement    Products   Construction    Co., 
Walworth,  Wis. 
Bosch,  Jacob 

Manager,     Calumet     Concrete     Con- 
struction Co.,  Chicago. 
BouRicius,    G. 

Drake      Realty      Construction      Co.. 
Omaha. 
Bovard,  W.  O. 

Sales  Manager,  Canada  Cement  Co., 
Ltd.,  Toronto. 
Boyd,  W.  W.  Jr. 

Unit  Construction  Co.,  St.  Louis. 
BoYER,  Edward  D. 

Atlas    Portland    Cement    Co.,     New 
York. 
Bradford,  Oscar 

Expanded  Metal  Co.,  Chicago. 
Br\ndt.  L. 

Housing     Engineer,     Brandt-Clepper 
Co.,  Pittsburgh. 
Braun,    John    I. 

Zingen  &  Braun,  Milwaukee. 
Braun,  William  T. 
Architect,  Chicago. 
Brewer,  R.  D. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 
Brigham,  G.  S. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Buf- 
falo, N.  Y. 
Briody,  B.  C. 

Truscon  Steel  Co.,  Youngstown,  Ohio. 
Brockett,  B.  L. 

Lumber  Dealer,  Atchison,  Kans. 
Bronson,  Chas.  C. 

Farm  Paper  Representative,  Chicago. 
Brooke.  B.  B. 

The  Youngstown  Sheet  &  Tube  Co., 
and  The  Buckeye  Land  Co.,  Youngs- 
town, Ohio. 
Brooks,    Gale  M. 

Engineer,     Atlas    Portland     Cement 
Co.,    Chicago. 
Bruner,  p.  M. 

Contractor,  St.  Louis. 

Buchanan,  Jas.  A. 

Farm  Paper  Representative,  Chicago. 


Biilen,  J.  Elwood 

Real    Estate,    Columbus,   0. 
Buds.    Chas. 

Chicago. 
BuNDo  Bros. 

Chicago. 
Caldwell,  F.  E. 

Portland    Cement   Association,    East 

Orange,  N.  J. 

C ALLEN,  E.  W. 

Building  Inspector,  Industrial  Com- 
mission of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 
Campbell,  H.  Colin 

Director,   Editorial   and  Advertising 
Bureau,    Portland    Cement    Associa- 
tion, Chicago. 
Campbell,  R.  A. 

De     Smet     Quartz     Tile     Co.,    Wau- 
conda.  111. 
Cann,   Frank  H. 

Salesman,     Universal    Portland     Ce- 
ment Co.,  Chicago. 
Canterbury,  R.  C. 

Minter  Homes  Corporation,  Chicago. 
Carpenter,  F.  B. 

Assistant   General   Manager,   Edison 
Portland  Cement  Co.,  New  York. 
Cebulske,  Wm.  J. 

Ottawa,  111. 
Chapman.   F.   L.   Jr. 

Better  Farming,  Chicago. 
Chapman,  Cloyd  M. 

Engineer    of    Tests,    Westinghouse, 
Church,   Kerr  &  Co.,   New  York. 
Chubb,  Jos.  H. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Min- 
neapolis. 
Clarkson,  John  L. 

National  Federation  of  Construction 
Industries,  Philadelphia. 
Clay,  Wharton 

Associated   Metal   Lath   Manufactur- 
ers, Chicago. 
Cline,  M.  a. 

Contractor,  Logansport,  Ind. 
Clippard,  W.  L. 

Clippard  Builders  Supply  Co.,  Little 
Rock,  Ark. 
Cedarblad,  John 
Representative,  Swedish  Government, 
Chicago. 

Cobb,  Louis  R. 

Westinghouse,   Church,   Kerr  &  Co., 
New  York. 

Coffin,  Kenneth 
Merritt  Harrison,  Architect,  Indian- 
apolis. 

Cox  BURN,   D.   S. 

Superintendent,    Ludolf    M.    Hansen 
Co.,  Chicago. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


225 


CoLCORD,  Albert  E. 

Architect,  Chicago. 
Collier,    B.    C. 

Cement  Gun  Co.,  Inc.,  AUentown,  Pa. 

Collins,  D.  R. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

COOGAN,  F.  M. 

President,  Phillipsburg  Development 
Co.,    Phillipsburg,    N.    J. 

Cooper,  Gilbert 

Manager,    Ideal    Concrete    Construc- 
tion Co.,  Joliet,  111. 

Cope,  A.  B. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Mil- 
waukee. 

COPELAND,   H.  L. 

Architect,  Walla  Walla,  Wash. 

CORWIN,  E.  L. 

Playford   Manufacturing  Co.,   Elgin, 

111. 
Cowan.  Alex  C. 

Superintendent       of       Construction, 

John  H.  McClatchy  Co.,  Philadelphia. 
CowLES,  George  C. 

Cement  Block  Manufacturer,  Felrut, 

Mich. 
CowLES,  H.  G. 

Mt.  Morris,  Mich. 

COWLES,   H.   I. 

Rural  New  Yorker,  Chicago. 

CowLES,  Stanley 

Citizens  Homes  Co.,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Coyne,  J.  J. 

Contractor,  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis. 

Crapo,  James 

Secretary,  National  Firemen's  Asso- 
ciation, Chicago. 

Crockett,   Charles  C. 

Hollow  Building  Tile  Association, 
Chicago. 

Crom,  J.  M. 

District  Manager,  Cement  Gun  Co., 
Chicago. 

Cronkrite,  a.  C. 

Division  Sales  Manager,  Universal 
Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chicago. 

Crotty,  G.  F. 

Concrete,   Detroit. 

Crowder,  H.  G. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

CURTISS,  S.  W. 

Chicago. 
Curtis,  A.  J.  R. 

Manager,  Farm  and  Cement  Products 
Bureau,  Portland  Cement  Associa- 
tion, Chicago. 

Curtis,  Wallis 
Geneva,  N.  Y. 


Curtis,  W.  W. 

Peninsular     Portland     Cement     Co.. 

Jackson,  Mich. 
Damon,  Louis  A. 

Chicago. 
Dark.  George 

Buffalo,  N.  Y. 
Davidson,    J.    B. 

Professor,  Agricultural  Engineering, 

Iowa   State   College,    Ames,    Iowa. 
Davidson,  John  M. 

Manager,  Morgan  Park  Co.,  Duluth, 

Minn. 
Davidson,   W.   L. 

Pierce's  Farm  Weeklies,  Chicago. 
Davis,  Moses  A. 

Manual  Training  Instructor,  Chicago. 
Davis,   Robert  B. 

Farkas    Brothers    Advertising    Co. 

Chicago. 
Davis,   W.  C. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi 

cago. 
Dazey,  C.  M. 

Builder,  Beloit,  Wis. 
Den  I,   Frank   C. 

Mooseheart   Educational   Vocational 

Institute,  Aurora,  111. 
De  Lamater,  C.  S. 

Erection    Engineer,    Hamilton    Con- 
crete Machinery  Co.,  Cleveland. 

Dennis,  Fred  L. 

President,  The  Citizens  Homes  Co., 
South  Bend,  Ind. 

De  Smet,  George  W. 

De  Smet  Quartz   Tile  Co.,   Chicago. 

Dewey,   C.   I. 

President,    Traylor-Dewey    Contract- 
ing Co.,  Allentown,  Pa. 

DiAK,  Dr.  Alex 
Birmingham,  Mich. 

DiCKOVER     CeTMENT     PRODUCTS     CO. 

Valparaiso,  Ind. 

Dienhart,   E.  W. 
Portland  Cement  Association,  Minne- 
apolis. 

DoBNEiR,  John 

De  Smet  Quartz  Tile  Co.,  Wauconda, 

111. 

DOLAN,    E.    A. 

Sales    Manager,    Marquette    Cement 
Manufacturing  Co.,   Chicago. 

DORELL.   H.  L. 

James  O.  Heyworth,  Engineer  &  Gen- 
eral Contractor,  Chicago. 

Donaldson,  C.  W. 
Donaldson  Concrete  Construction  Co., 
Chicago. 


226 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Donaldson,   J.   C. 

Granette  Products  Co.,  Des  Moines, 
Iowa. 

DOWDALL,    E.    J. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Dowse,  M.  L. 

General    Manager,    Kenosha    Homes 

Co.,  Kenosha,  Wis. 
Dreyhus,  Chester 

Builder    &    Real    Estate    Operator, 

Hillsboro,  111. 
Duffy,  James  S. 

Architect,  New  London,  Conn. 
Duffy,  M.  R. 

Anti-Hydro  Waterproofing  Co.,   New 

York. 

DUGGAN,   W.  T. 

Liberty    Ship    Building    and    Trans- 
portation Co.,  Cleveland. 
DuNDON,  Daniel  C. 

Inspector  of  Buildings,  Erie,  Pa. 

Dunlap,  H.  a. 

Unit  Construction  Co.,  St.  Louis. 

Dunn,  F.  W. 

W.  E.  Dunn  Manufacturing  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Dunn,  J.  A, 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Dunn,  W.  E. 
W.  E.  Dunn  Manufacturing  Co.,  Hol- 
land, Mich. 

DuTTON,  Ellis  R. 

City  Engineer,  Minneapolis. 

Eagon,  Barney  C. 

Manufacturers  Record,  Chicago. 

Earley,  J.  J. 

Sculptor,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Eaton,  R.  A. 

Van      Guilder      Double      Wall      Co., 

Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Edge,  W.  S. 

Chief  Engineer,  Concrete   Steel  Co., 

New  York. 
Ekblaw,  K.  J.  T. 

Orange  Judd  Publications,   Chicago. 
Ekholm,  S.  L. 

Secretary,  The  Helm  Brick  Machine 

Co.,  Cadillac,  Mich. 
Elder,  Wm.  F. 

Elder  Brothers,  General  Contractors, 

Detroit. 
Elhener,  T.  J.  M. 

Realtor  &  Builder,  Logansport,  Ind. 

Emerson,  H.  B. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Fabyan,  Mrs.  George 

Riverbank  Studios,  Geneva,  111. 


Fellabaum,  E. 

Concrete    Block    Manufacturer,    To- 
ledo, O. 

Fellgren,  Charles  W. 
Chicago. 

Fendrick,  I.  A. 

Associated  Metal  Lath  Manufactur- 
ers, Chicago. 

Filer,  W.  H. 
Grove  City,  Pa. 

Fisher,  Charles  E. 

National  Pressed  Steel  Co.,  Minne- 
apolis. 

Fisher,  Howard 

De   Smet  Quartz   Tile   Co.,   Chicago. 

Flagler,  T.  T. 

General  Contractor,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Fletcher,  E.  E. 

Dennos  Products  Co.,  Chicago. 

FoRBUSH,  Walter  R. 

Public  Building  Commissioner,  West 
Newton,  Mass. 

FOSHINBAUR,    V.    G. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 

Foster,  Alexander,  Jr. 

Wm.  Sterle  &  Sons  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

Fowler,  F.  C. 

Ingersoll  Co.,  South  Orange,  N.  J. 

Frazee,  John  C. 

Executive  Secretary,  National  Fed- 
eration of  Construction  Industries, 
Philadelphia. 

Frazer,  Emory  D. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Lyon  Con- 
crete Products  Co.,  Chicago. 

Freeman,  J.  E. 

Engineer,  Technical  Bureau,  Port- 
land Cement  Association,  Chicago. 

Friedline,  Feed 

Architect  &  Engineer,  Kentland,  Ind. 

Friel,  G.  M. 

Hobbs  Concrete  Machinery  Co.,  Co- 
lumbus, O. 

Frost  &  Sons,  F.  M. 

Concrete  Block  and  Tile  Manufactur- 
ers, Jerseyville,  111. 

Frost,  H.  T. 

Hollow  Wall  Cement  House  Co., 
Mitchell,  S.  Dak. 

Garbee,  D.  a. 

Contractor,  North  Eastern  Construc- 
tion Co.,  New  York. 

Garriott,  H. 

Boswell  &  Garriott,  Architects,  Lo- 
gansport, Ind. 

Gaston,   H.  F. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 


ON   CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


227 


Geisinger,  Louis  H. 
Contractor,  Milwaukee. 

GiDDINGS,    H.    P. 

General      Contractor,      Washington, 
D.  C. 

GiFFORD,    W.    H. 

American     Aggregate     Co.,     Kansas 
City,  Mo. 

GiFFORD,    ChAS.    L. 

Lime,  Cleveland. 

GlNSBF.RG,    F.    I. 

Engineer,    R.    E.    Brooks    Co.,    New- 
York. 

Glass,  John 

Manufacturers'  Record,  Baltimore. 

Godfrey,  Edward 
Pittsburgh. 

Godfrey,  N.  L. 

Wholesale   Sash   and   Door   Associa- 
tion,  Chicago. 

Godwin,  George 

De    Smet    Quartz    Tile    Co.,    Wau- 
conda.  111. 

GoETZ,  John  A. 

Engineer   and    Contractor,    Mattoon, 
111. 

GOGGIN,  V.  T. 

Sales  Manager,  Fred  T.  Ley  &  Co., 
Inc.,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Golden,  Jake 

Hammond  Cement  Block  Co.,  Ham- 
mond, Ind. 

Gonnerman,    H.   F. 

University  of  Illinois,  Urbana,  111. 

GOOCH,  J.  P. 

Manager,    Delta    Cement    Tile    Co., 
Greenville,  Miss. 
Gordon.  Edwin   S. 

Architect,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

GOSSTRON,    H. 

Home    Fireproof    Construction    Co., 
Chicago. 

GOSSWEIN,    O.   H. 

Field   Engineer,   Universal    Portland 

Cement  Co.,  Chicago. 
GowEN,  A.  Y. 

Vice-President,       Lehigh       Portland 

Cement  Co.,  Chicago. 
Grant,    Raymond    C. 

Wonder    Concrete    Mixers,    Helena, 

Mont. 
Graves,  Geo.  H. 

Commissioner     of     Buildings,     Oak 

Park,  111. 

Green,  B.  J. 

Concrete  Block  Manufacturers,  Flint, 
Mich. 

Greensf'eeder,  a.   p. 

Secretary,  Fruin-Colnon  Contracting 
Co.,  St.  Louis. 


Greenald,  E.  J. 

Concrete      Products      Manufacturer, 
Whitney,  Ind. 

Girdley,  a.  a. 
Manufacturers'  Record,  Chicago. 

Grogan,  R.  S. 

Manager,    Chicago   Granitine    Manu- 
facturing Co.,  Chicago. 

GtXJBERNATOR,  E.   S. 

Lehigh    Portland    Cement   Co.,    Chi- 
cago. 

Guthrie,  Henry  A. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Hadsell,  I.  W. 

Sweet's  Catalogue  Service,  Chicago. 

Hagan,  F,  G. 

Architect,  Paris,  Ky. 

Halger,  F.  L. 
Chicago  Tribune,  Chicago. 

Hall,  Louis  E. 

Modern  Housing  Corporation,  Janes- 

ville.  Wis. 
Halper,  Leo 

General  Contractor,  Chicago. 

Hammett,  J.  A. 

Western    Sales    Manager,    National 

Fire  Proofing  Co.,  Chicago. 
Hammond,  Chas.  Herrick 

Architect,  Chicago. 
Hanford,  Arthur 

Architect,  Duluth,  Minn. 
Hargrove,  H.  A. 

Illinois  Valley  Manufacturers'  Club, 

La  Salle,  111. 
Harmon,  D.  W. 

County    and    City    Engineer,    Mary- 

ville,  Tenn. 
Harper,  J.  C. 

Chas.  Wesely  Co.,  Chicago. 
Harper.  Wm.  D. 

Inspector  of  Buildings,  Milwaukee. 
Harridge,  J.  K. 

Hydro  Stone  Co.,  Chicago. 
Harris,  T.  J. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 

Harris,  W.  R. 

Editor,  Concrete  Products,  Chicago. 

Harry,  Chas. 

Superintendent,  J.  B.  Foote  Foundry 
Co.,  Fredericktown,  O. 

Harvey,  James  S.,  Jr. 

Stone  &  Webster,  Chicago. 

Hathaway,  Mary  Ann 

Librarian,  Industrial  Relations  De- 
partment, International  Harvester 
Co.,  Chicago. 


228 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


Hatt,  K.  a. 

Structural  Materials  Research   Lrab- 
oratory,    Lewis    Institute,    Chicago. 

Hatt,  W.  K. 

Professor,  Civil  Engineering,  Purdue 
University,  LaFayette,   Ind. 

Havlik,  Robert  F. 
Engineer,  Mooseheart,  111. 

Hawkins,  Paul  J. 

General  Manager,  Walter  Concrete 
Machinery  Co.,  Indianapolis. 

Hayes,  R.  A. 

Prest-0-Lite  Co.,  Inc.,  Speedway  City, 
Ind. 

Haymaker,  K.  V. 

Financial  Advisor,  U.  S.  League 
Building  &  Loan  Associations,  To- 
ledo, O. 

Hayward,  a.  E. 

Cement  Products,  West  Chicago,  111. 

Heer,  F.  J. 

Architect,  Dubuque,  Iowa. 

Heine,  H.  E. 
Manager,  Concrete  Specialty  Co.,  Mil- 
waukee. 

Helmuth,  D. 

President,  Empire  Tile  Co.,  Cleve- 
land. 

Hephiree,    H.   H. 

Architect  and  Contractor,  Boston 
Housing  Co.,  Boston. 

Herding,  F.  J. 

Herding    &    Boyd,     Architects    and 

Town  Planners,  St.  Louis. 
Herr,  Horace  H, 

Editor,    The    American    Contractor, 

Chicago. 

HiLLES,  R.  W. 

Sales  Manager,  Dexter  Portland  Ce- 
ment Co.,  New  York. 

Hitt,  Rector  C. 
Ottawa,  111. 

Hodgson,  Gilbert 

Architect,  Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada. 

Hoer,  F.  a. 

Manager,  Granitoid  Construction  Co., 
Pueblo,  Colo. 

Holden,  Thomas  S. 

Statistician,  The  F.  W.  Dodge  Co., 
New  York. 

Hollister,  S.  C. 

Wig,  Hollister  &  Ferguson,  Philadel- 
phia. 

HoLSMAN,  Henry  K. 
Architect,  Chicago. 

HOLTON,  R.  O. 

The  H.  R.  Blagg  Co.,   General  Con- 
tractor, Dayton,  O. 
Hoover.    Ira  W. 
Architect,  Chicago. 


Horner,  W.  W. 
Chief    Engineer,    Sewers    &   Paving, 
St.  Louis. 

HowER,  L.  A. 

Lewis   Institute,   Chicago. 
Hubbard,  Fred 

Carnegie   Steel  Co.,  Youngstown,   O. 
Hughes,  Andrew  F. 
Architect,  Chicago. 
HuEL,   Walter  A. 

Bureau    of    Standards,    Washington, 
D.  C. 
HuLSART,  C.  Raymond 

Portland    Cement   Association,    New 
York. 
Humphrey,  Richard  L. 

Consulting  Engineer,  Philadelphia. 
Hunt,  T.  N. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Hunter.  C.  E. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
HuoviNER,   Miss  A.   K. 

Home    Fireproof    Construction    Co., 
Chicago. 
Hurley,  W.  H. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Hyde,  W.  J. 

Builders     and     Traders     Exchange, 
Gary,  Ind. 
Imler,  Roy 

International  Trade  Press,  Inc.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Ingberg,  S.  H. 

Bureau  of  Standards,  Elmhurst,  111. 
Irwin,  A.  C. 

Engineer,    Structural    Bureau,    Port- 
land Cement  Association,  Chicago. 
Jaeger,  G. 
The   Jaeger   Machinery   Co.,   Colum- 
bus, O. 
Jakowsky,  J. 

University     of     Kansas,     Lawrence, 
Kans. 
Janisch.   John   S. 

Chicago  Cement  Burial  and  Casket 
Co.,  Chicago. 
Jankowsky,  Simon 

Tulsa,  Okla. 
Jensen,  R.  P. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 
Jerka,  J.  P. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Johnson,  Chas.  A. 

President,  Union  Coal  &  Supply  Co., 
East  Chicago,  Ind. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


229 


Jones,  W.  E. 

Federal  Concrete  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Kaiser,  W.  G. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Kamvar,  J.  T. 
Webster  City,  Ind. 

Keeler.  M.  D.  — 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Kelchuer,   W.   W. 

Hamilton    Concrete    Machinery    Co., 

Cleveland. 
Kerr.   Horace  D. 

Atlas  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chicago. 
Kneedler,  D.  L. 

Cramp  Co.,  Philadelphia. 

King.  W.  W. 

Promotion     Engineer,,    Canada     Ce- 
ment Co.,  Ltd.,  Montreal. 

KiRWAIN,   J.  J. 

Chicago. 
Kirk,  H.  B. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Klein ERT,  Albert  E. 

Superintendent    of    Buildings,    Bor- 
ough  of  Brooklyn,  New  York. 
Krum.   Harry   G. 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Cast  Stone 
Co.,  St.  Paul. 
Lander,    R.    S. 

Engineer,    Shearman   Concrete   Pipe 
Co.,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 
Lapierre,  C.  C. 

Canada  Cement  Co.,  Ltd.,  Montreal. 

LaRoy.    H.    a. 

Pioneer   Manufacturing   Co.,    Water- 
loo, Iowa. 

Lawson,  Frank  J. 

Concrete  Drain  Tile  Manufacturer, 
Oxford,  Ind. 

Leach,  Fred  M. 

Besser    Manufacturing   Co.,    Detroit. 

Lee,  H.  B. 

General  Contractor,  Gary,  Ind. 

Lee,  Thos.  G. 

Celite  Products  Co.,  Chicago. 

Leenhouts,   Cornelius 
Architect,  Milwaukee. 

Lehman,  E.  W. 

Professor  of  Agricultural  Engineer- 
ing, University  of  Missouri,  Colum- 
bia, Mo. 

Lewis,  Geo.  E. 

Marion  Double  Wall  Co.,  Marion,  O, 

Libhekton,  J.  H. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi 
cago. 


LiCHTY,  H.  B. 

President,  Waterloo  Construction  Ma- 
chinery Co.,  Waterloo,  Iowa. 

Lindan,  a.  E. 

Corrugated  Bar  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

LiNDROs,  John  A. 

Building  Commissioner,  Rock  Island, 
111. 

Lindstrand,  J.  A. 
Architect,  Chicago. 

LiNKiNS,  Wm.  p. 

Real    Estate   Operator,    Washington, 
D.  C. 

Livermore,  a.  C. 

Manager,  Westinghouse  Air  Brake 
Home  Building  Co.,  Wilmerding,  Pa. 

LOCKHARDT,     W.     F. 

Turner  Construction  Co.,  New  York. 

LOUEB,   L.    S. 

Engineering  &  Contracting,  Chicago. 

Lowell,  J.  W. 

Eastern  Manager,  Service  Bureau, 
Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Pitts 
burgh. 

LuMis,  Fred  W. 

Building  Commissioner,  Springfield, 
Mass. 

LuTZ,   Melvin   E. 

Signalman,  U.  S.  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Lyon,  C.  W. 

President,    Lyon   Concrete   Products 
Co.,  Chicago. 
MacDonald,  Albert  J. 

Editor,  The  Architectural  Forum, 
Boston. 

MacGat'ghey,  J.  E. 

Building  Construction,  Indianapolis. 

Macgowan,  E.  S. 
Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Min- 
neapolis. 

MacGregob,  R.  K. 

Concrete  Builder,  Chicago. 

MacNeill,  W.  F. 

Stock  Yards  Co.  Clearing  House,  Chi- 
cago. 

McAleenem.  W.  J. 
Peoria,  111. 

McArthub,  C.  D. 

Blaw-Knox  Co.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

McCarthy,   B.   G. 

Works  Engineer,  Electro-Metallurgi- 
cal Co.,  Glen  Ferris,  W.  Va. 

McClotchy.  Frank   A. 
Builder,  Philadelphia. 

McCulby,   R.   M. 

Business  Manager,  Cement  and  En- 
gineering News,  Chicago. 


230 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


McGONAGLE,  R.  E. 

Superintendent,   Stack   Construction 

Co.,  Duluth,  Minn. 
McIntyre,  David 

Mclntyre  Concrete  Tile  Co.,  Detroit. 
McMahon,    James    J. 

Standard  Farm  Papers,  Chicago. 
McQuiLKiN,  A.  K. 

Editor,  National  Builder,  Chicago. 
McSheehy,  p.  H. 

American  Steel  &  Wire  Co.,  Chicago. 
Maas,  H.  G. 

Maas-Neimeyer  Lumber  Co.,  Indian- 
apolis. 
Macomber,  Stanley 

The  National  Pressed  Steel  Co.,  Mas- 

silon,  O. 
Maier,  J.  J. 

Knox  &  Maier  Co.,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Malmed,   a.   T. 

Building   Supplies,   Philadelphia. 
Mann,  Wm.  D. 

Architect,    Chicago. 
Mansfield,   J.  B.  # 

National   Real  Estate   Journal,   Chi- 
cago. 
Marani,  Virgil  G. 

Chief  Engineer,   Gypsum   Industries 

Association,  Chicago. 
Marks,  John  H. 

LaSalle   Portland   Cement   Co.,   Chi- 
cago. 
Marshall,  R. 

Business  Manager,  Concrete,  Detroit. 
Martin,  B.  G. 

Shop  Superintendent,  Ideal  Concrete 

Co.,  Joliet,  111. 
Massee,  Paul  N. 

Products     Manufacturer,    Bessemer, 

Mich. 
Matthews,  O.  A. 

Secretary,    Concrete    Mixer   Associa- 
tion, Chicago. 
Matjer,  Louis  G. 

Morene  Products  Co.,  New  York. 

Maynard.   Arthur  J. 

State   Farm   Engineer,   Bridgewater, 
Mass. 

Mercer.  H.  D. 

Koppel  Industrial  Car  &  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  Chicago. 

Meriwether,  Coleman 

Manufacturer   of   Concrete   Pressure 
Pipe,   Indianapolis. 

Merry,  Kent 

I.  C.  Stave  Silo  Co.,  Wichita,  Kans. 

Metier,    Urban    John 

General    Manager,    Madko    Concrete 
Products  Co.,  Madison,  Wis. 


MiLBURN,  Roy 
LaSalle  Chamber  of  Commerce,  La- 
Salle, 111. 

Millard,  J.  E. 
East  Peoria,  111. 

Miller,   Basil  D. 

International  Harvester  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Miller,  C.  C. 

Citizens  Homes  Co.,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Miller,  Edward  N. 

Secretary,  Elliott  &  Harman  Engi- 
neering Co.,  Peoria,  111. 

Miller,    Howard    K. 

C.  R.  Miller  &  Son,  Decatur,  III. 

Miller,  F.  T. 

President,  F.  W.  Dodge  Co.,  New 
York. 

Miller,   Rudolph  P. 

Superintendent  of  Buildings,  Chair* 
man.  Building  Officials  Conference, 
New  York. 

Mills,  Charles  H. 

Du   Pont  Co.,   Wilmington,   Del. 

Mills,   Guy   G. 

Portland  Cement  Association  Co., 
Chicago. 

Mitchell,  Nolan  D. 

Structural  Engineer,  Supervising 
Architect,  Treasury  Department, 
Washington,   D.   C. 

Moore,  E.  E. 

General  Manager,  Light  Sandless 
Concrete  Corporation,  Des  Moines, 
Iowa. 

MooRE,  F.  Gushing 
Northwest  Gunite  Construction  Co., 
Spokane,  Wash. 

MooRE,  John  W. 

Superintendent  of  Buildings,  Bo- 
rough   of    Queens,    New   York. 

MooRE,  S.  B. 

Construction  Engineer,  Southern  Pa- 
cific Railroad,  Houston,  Tex. 

MoRENCY,  Joseph  N. 

Better  Farming,  Chicago. 

Morgan,  Wm.  J. 

Brown  &  Grant,   Saginaw,  Mich. 

Morrill,   Milton   Dana 
Architect,  New  York. 

Mosher.  E.  H. 

Engineer  &  Contractor,  Washington, 
D.  C. 

MOSHIER,     A.     T. 

Sadler-Moshier  Co.,  Janesville,  Wis. 
Moss.   R.    M. 

Metal  Forms  Corporation,  Milwau- 
kee. 


Oy   CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


231 


MOYNES,  V.  C. 

Canada  Cement  Co.,  Ltd.,  Winnipeg. 
Canada. 

MUEHLSTEIN.    W.    C. 

Building  Engineer,   Industrial   Com- 
mission of  Wisconsin,  Madison,  Wis. 

MlJLLEN,    C.    F. 

The  Masters  &  Mullen  Construction 

Co.,  Cleveland. 
Murphy,  John  J. 

Tenement    House    Committee,    New 

York. 
Nan.  Fred 

Real   Estate,  Chicago. 

Nelson,  J.  C. 

Staples-Nelson     Double     Wall     Co. 
South  Bend,  Ind. 

Nelson,   J.   L. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Nemec,  J.  J. 

Western     Representative,     Concrete, 
Chicago. 

Nettercut,  E.  S. 

Secretary,  Western  Society  of  Engi- 
neers, Chicago. 

Nevins,  H.  G. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Newby.  C.  F. 
Contractor,  Kennard,  Ind. 

Newlin.  C.  J. 

Contractor,  Normal,  111. 

Niederstadt,  Charles  A. 

Concrete      Products     Manufacturer, 
Saginaw,  Mich. 

NiLSSON,    C.   J. 

Contractor,  Chicago. 

NORDAHL,    A. 

N.  Y.  C.  R.  R.,  Cleveland. 

NORTHQUIST,    R.    A. 

Designing  Engineer,  Concrete  Steel 
Co.,  Chicago. 
Norton,  F.  L. 

Norton-Garetson  Land  Co.,  St.  Louis. 

Norton,  H.  S. 

Gary  Land  Co.,  Gary,  Ind. 

O'Byrne,  Frank  J.  J. 
Chicago. 

Olmsted.  Arthur  H. 
Portland  Cement  Association,  Plain- 
field,  N.  J. 

Olsen,   Chris 

Badger  Concrete  Co.,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Olsen,  Eugene  F. 

Anchor     Concrete     Machinery     Co., 
Rock  Rapids,  la. 

O'Neil,  H.  N. 
Lehigh    Portland    Cement    Co.,    Chi- 
cago. 


O'Toole,    Bartholomew 

Chairman,  "Own  Your  Home  Com- 
mittee," Chicago  Real  Estate  Board, 
Chicago. 

O'RouRKE,  Wm.  p. 

Superintendent  of  Buildings,  New- 
ark, N.  J. 

Pabst,   T.   S. 
Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Pape,  Geo. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 

Parker,  E.  N. 

Commonwealth  Edison  Co.,  Chicago. 

Parker,    Wm.    P. 

Production  Engineer,  Ballinger  & 
Perrot,  Architects,  Philadelphia. 

Parks,  F.  E. 

General  Manager,  Deer  Park  Arti- 
ficial Stone  Co.,  Deer  Park,  Wash. 

Parley,  T.  E. 
Lyon  &  Healy,  Chicago. 

Parr,  John  H. 
Chicago. 

Parsons,   Walter   J. 

The  W.  J.  Parsons  Housing  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Passman,  J.  H. 

Western  Electric  Co.,  Hawthorne 
Works,  Chicago. 

Paternoster,  Manuel 
Concrete  Block  Manufacturer,  Fair- 
bury,  111. 

Patterson,  E.  H. 
Real  Estate,   Saginaw,  Mich. 

Paterson.  H.  G. 

Viani  Concrete  Mold  Co.,  Chicago. 

Payne,  M.  E. 
Marquette  Cement  Mfg.  Co.,  Chicago. 

Pearson,  T.  A. 

General  Superintendent,  Fred  T.  Ley 
&  Co.,   Inc.,   Springfield,   Mass. 

Perrot,  Emile  G. 

Ballinger  &  Perrot,  Architects  &  En-, 
gineers,  Philadelphia. 

Peters.  F.  E. 

Peters-Eastman   Co.,    Indianapolis. 

Peterson.  E.  W. 

Sales  Manager,  Central  Metallic  Door 
Co.,  Chicago. 

PHn.LTP,  Richard 

Architect,  Brent  &  Phillip,  Milwau- 
kee. 

Pickles,   William   Wright 
Portland  Cement  Association,  Phila- 
delphia. 

PoLis,   Harry 

Cement  Block  Manufacturer,  South 
Bend,  Ind. 


232 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


PoxD,   Irving  K. 
Architect,  Chicago. 

Porter,   John  J. 

Security  Cement  &  Lime  Co.,  Hagers- 
town  Homes  Corp.,  Hagerstown,  Md. 

Powell,  C.  M. 

Portland    Cement   Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Price,  G.  F.  W. 

City  Architect,  Toronto,  Canada. 

PURNELL,   C.    G. 

Publishers  Representative,  Chicago. 

QUEBBEMAN,    EdWARD 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Rauss,  Charles 
Builder,  Chicago. 

Rader.  B.  H. 

Lehigh  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Raiff,  H.  L. 

Tubular  Wall  Co.,  Inc.,  Columbus, 
Mont. 

Rankin,    Chas.    H. 
Strong,  Colo. 

Rawle,  E.  H. 

General  Contractor,  Akron,  O. 

Raymond,  Eugene,  Jr. 

Raymond,  Prettyman  &  Wilcox, 
Builders,  Philadelphia. 

Redeker.   Adam   &   Redeker 

Construction  &  Building,  Arlington 
Heights,  111. 

Reedy,  Wm.  B. 

Radford  Publications,  Chicago. 

Reiberg,  Max 
Farmer,  Chicago. 

Rice,   Ralph   H. 

Board  of  Supervising  Engineers,  Chi- 
cago. 

Richardson,   Chas.   E. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Mil- 
waukee. 

Richardson,  J.  R, 
Madera,  Calif. 

RiCHART,   Frank   E. 

Research  Associate,  University  of  Il- 
linois, Urbana,  111. 

Rider,  Mark  D. 

President,  U.  S.  League  of  Local 
Building  and  Loan  Associations,  Chi- 
cago. 

Ringeisen,   C.  F. 

United  Press  Association,  Chicago. 

Rittman,  W.  E. 

Wightman  Concrete  Machinery  Co., 
Pittsburgh. 

Roberts,  C.  A. 

Galien  Concrete  Tile  Co.,  Galien, 
Mich. 


Roberts,  E.  C. 

Cleveland  Builders   Supply   &  Brick 
Co.,  Cleveland. 

Robertson,  R.  E. 

Ash  Grove  Lime  &  Portland  Cement 
Co.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Robison,  S.  J. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Robinson,  W.  C. 
Underwriter  Laboratories,  Chicago. 

Roby.  C.  H. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

RODD,  W.  C. 

Engineer,  Citizens  Homes  Co.,  South 
Bend,  Ind. 

Rogers.  J.  S. 
Architect,    Chicago. 

Rogers,  Warren  A. 

President,    Hamilton    Concrete    Ma- 
chinery Co.,  Cleveland. 

Rosing,  Anton  S. 

Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Ross,  J.  A. 

Concrete    Block    Manufacturer,    Chi- 
cago. 

Russell,  C.  W. 
Pratt  City,  Ala. 

Salisbury,  R.  H. 
Architect,  Wheaton,  111. 

Saybrook,   H.   H. 
Chicago. 

ScHAEFER,  John  V. 
President,  Cement  Gun  Construction 
Co.,  Chicago. 

Schilling,  Adolf 
The  Stonecrete  Co.,  Haddon  Heights, 
N.  J. 

SCHMIDLER,   R.   M. 

Chicago. 
Schmidt,  Jas. 
Cement  Cast  Stone  Works,  St.  James, 
Minn. 

SCHMITZ,    J.   L. 

Assoc.   Editor,   Concrete,   Detroit. 

SCHNODTLER,    J.    G. 

American  Steel  &  Wire  Co.,  Chicago. 
ScHOLL,  Robert 

Builder,  Cleveland. 
Schommaker,  J.  R. 

General     Contracting,     Wauwatona, 

Wis. 
Scott,  John  G. 

Inspector  of  Buildings,  East  Orange, 

N.  J. 
Sears,  Lon  J. 

General  Concrete  Construction,  Bar- 

nett,  Mo. 


ON  CONCRETE  HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


233 


Sexton,  Robert  H. 
Managing     Director,      "Own      Your 
Home"  Exposition,  New  York. 

Shambleau,  N.  R. 
Architect,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Shaw,  W.  W. 

Porter-Langtry  Co.,  Chicago. 

Shearman.  A.  N. 

Shearman  Concrete  Pipe  Co.,  Knox- 

ville,  Tenn. 
Shearman,  Tom 

Block  Manufacturer,  Athens,  Tenn. 

Sheldon,    K.    H. 
Architect,  Chicago. 

Shiel,  Walter  R. 

Shiel-Chapin    Construction    Co.,    In- 
dianapolis. 

Shinniok,    Matt    S. 

Superintendent  of  Buildings,  Kansas 
City,   Mo. 

Shutler,  Philip  F. 

Chase  &  Harriman,  Boston. 

Sladek,  V.  R. 
American  Steel  &  Wire  Co.,  Chicago. 

Slater,  W.  A. 

U.   S.    Bureau   of   Standards,   Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Smith.  Blaine  S. 
Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Smith,  Elmer  E. 

Industrial  Management,  Chicago. 

Smith.  James  Elmo 

Professor  of  Civil  Engineering,  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois,  Urbana,  111. 

Smith,  P.  R. 
Manager,    Phillipsburg   Development 
Corporation,  Phillipsburg,  N.  J. 

Smith.  W.  K. 
Century     Cement     Machinery     Co., 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Sorenson,   Jui.ius 
Block  Manufacturer,  Racine,  Wis. 

Southard,  S.  L. 
U.  S.  Gypsum  Co.,  Chicago.' 

Sprenkmann,  R.  a. 
Atlas  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chicago. 

Spencher,   p.   M. 
Endsley  &  Spencher,  Concrete  Pipe, 
Somerset,  Pa. 

Springer,  L.  B. 
New   Enterprise   Concrete    Manufac- 
turing Co.,  Chicago. 

Springer,  W.  M. 
Orange  Judd  Co.,  Chicago. 

Stainer  Bros. 

Standard  Elsmere  Granite  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Stamler.  E. 
Architect,  Lexington,  Ky. 


Staples,  A.  D. 

President,     Staples-Nelson     Double 
Wall  Co.,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Steel.  Ralph 

Zion  Building  Industry,  Zion,   111. 

Stelle,    I.   T. 
Granette  Products  Co.,  Des  Moines, 
Iowa. 

Stephani,  E.  L. 
Universal  Roofing  Tile  Co.,  Chicago. 

Stephens,  A.  W. 

Turner  Construction  Co.,  New  York. 

Stern,  Walter  B. 

Commissioner  of  Buildings,   Indian- 
apolis. 

Steward,  Chas.  A. 
Piano  Cement  Products  Co.,   Piano, 
111. 

Stineman,  N.  M. 
Portland    Cement    Association,    Chi- 
cago. 

Stock,  O.  L. 

Rose    Polytechnic    Institute,    Terre 

Haute,  Ind. 
Stoddard,  J.  D. 

President,  Concrete  Brick  &  Tile  Co., 

Detroit. 

Stone.  Prank  R. 
Oak  Park,  111. 

Stone.  O.  O. 
District  Manager,   Portland   Cement 
Association,  Detroit. 

Sundstrom.  C.  R. 
Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

SUTCLIFFE.    E.   A. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 
Swanson,  a.  G. 
Omaha  Concrete  Stone  Co.,  Omaha. 

Sweney,   J.   E. 
Secretary,  Associated   Building  Em- 
ployers Association,  Detroit. 

Sydell,  a.  C. 

Portland    Cement    Association.    Chi- 
cago. 

Symonds.  C.  L. 
Engineer,  National  Construction  Co., 
Inc.,  Cleveland. 

Talbot,  A.  N. 

University  of  Illinois,  Urbana,  111. 

Talbot.  K.  H. 

Koehring  Machine  Co.,  Milwaukee. 

Thompson.    Sanford    E. 
The  Thompson  &  Lichtner  Co.,  Bos- 
ton. 

Todd,  L.  M. 

Committee  on  Housing,  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


234 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  NATIONAL  CONFERENCE 


TOMLINSON,  D.  A. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 

Tbefz,  C.  T. 

Rock  Products,  Chicago. 

Trigg,  Ernest  T. 

President,  National  Federation  of 
Construction  Industries,  Philadel- 
phia. 

TULLOCK,    A.    S. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

TuMaath,  B.  C. 

President,  Keystone  Cement  Con- 
struction &  Manufacturing  Co., 
Janesville,  Wis. 

TuRNELTY,  John 

Real    Estate,    Keokuk,    Iowa. 

Turner.  H.  C. 

Turner  Construction  Co.,  New  York. 

Turner,  R.  K. 

Consulting  Engineer,  F.  T.  Ley  & 
Co.,    Springfield,    Mass. 

Unger.  Charles  F. 
Architect  &  Engineer,  Ames,  Iowa. 

Vander  Muelen,  John  M. 
Oak  Park,  111. 

VanGuilder,  W.  H. 

VanGuilder  Double  Wall  Co.,  Roch- 
ester, N.  Y. 

Van   Scoyoc,   H.   S. 

Manager  of  Publicity,  Canada  Ce- 
ment Co.,  Ltd.,  Montreal. 

Van  Omun,  W.  S. 

Carpenter  and  Builder,  Belvidere,  111. 

Vergowe.  B.  E. 

De  Smet  Quartz  Tile  Co.,  Wauconda, 
111. 

Villa DSEN,  Jens  M. 

Villadsen  Bros.,  Inc.,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah. 

Waldron,  J.  F. 

Cement  and  Engineering  News,  Chi- 
cago. 

Warner,   Alfred  D.,   Jr. 

Charles  Warner  Co.,  Wilmington, 
Del. 

Washburne,  F.  R. 

Architect,  Oak  Park,  111. 

Wason,  L.  C. 

President,  Aberthaw  Construction 
Co.,   Boston. 

Watkins,  Ernest  R. 

Architect,  Anderson,  Ind. 

Watkins,  R.  E. 

Portland  Cement  Association,  Chi- 
cago. 

Watson,  E.  W. 
Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 


Watson,  Geo.  B. 

President,  Watson  Co.,  Builders,  Dal- 
las, Texas. 

Way,   Wilfred 

Madison   Realty   Co.,   Madison,    Wis. 

Weatherly,   B.   S. 
Builder,  Omaha. 

Welsh,  Calvin 

Home  Fire   Proof  Construction   Co.» 
Chicago. 

WESSEZ.S,  Charles  D. 

D.  D.  Wessels  &  Son,  Detroit. 

Wetstein,  M. 

General    Manager,    Hodges    Electric 
Stucco   Machine   Works,    Cincinnati. 

Wheeler,   C.   S. 
Real  Estate,  Chicago. 

Wheeler,  B.  C. 

Assistant  to  General  Manager,  Port- 
land Cement  Association,  Chicago. 

Wheeler,  E.  L, 
Landscape  Constructor,  Chicago. 

Whipple,    Harvey 

Editor,  Concrete,  Detroit. 

Whipperman,  Capt.  Frank 
U.  S.  Army,  Omaha. 

Whiting,  R.   S. 

National  Lumber  Manufacturers  As- 
sociation, Chicago. 

Whitehouse  &  Price 

Architects,  Spokane,  Wash. 

Whitmeyer,  Marsh  H. 
Architect,  Peoria,  111. 

WiCKMAN,  Newell  W. 

Concrete      Products      Manufacturer, 
Saginaw,  Mich. 

Wight,    Frank    C. 

Engineering       News-Record,       New 
York. 

Wightman,  S.  H. 

General  Manager,  Concrete  Brick  & 
Tile  Co.,  Detroit. 

Wilcox,  Roland  E. 

Universal  Roofing  Tile  Co.,  Chicago. 

WiLK,   Benjamin 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

WiLKIE,  E.  M. 

Cement  Gun   Construction   Co.,   Chi- 
cago. , 

Williams,  H.  R. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 

Williams,  I.  H. 
Builder,  Detroit. 

William,  R.  J. 

Commonwealth  Edison  Co.,  Chicago. 

Williamson.  F,  L. 

Vice-President,   Dewey   Portland   Ce- 
ment Co.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 


ON  CONCRETE   HOUSE   CONSTRUCTION 


235 


Williamson,  Russex 
Architect,  Milwaukee. 

WiLLSEA,   L.   P. 

Century     Cement     Machinery     Co., 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Wilson,  Alan  P. 

Metal   Forms  &  Concrete  Mold  Co., 
Roanoke,  Va. 

Wilson,  E.  B. 
Manager,    American    Bureau   of    In- 
spection &  Tests,  Chicago. 

Wilson,  J.  K. 

General  Chemical  Co.,  Chicago. 

Wing,  Walter  S. 

Sales   Manager,    Universal    Portland 
Cement  Co.,  Pittsburgh. 

Winnie,  H.  D. 

Shiel-Chapin    Construction    Co.,    In- 
dianapolis. 
Wolfe,  F.  D. 

Architect,  San  Jose,  Calif. 
Wolfe,  H.  J. 

National  Builder,  Chicago. 
Wolf,  G.  J. 

Concrete    Products    Co.,    Hammond, 

Ind. 
Wooldridge,  C.  T. 

Carnegie  Land  Co.,   Pittsburgh,   Pa. 


WOOTTON,  W.  L. 

President,    Granite    Co.,    Inc.,    New 

York. 
Yarnell,  Roy 

Capper  Farm  Press,  Topeka,  Kans. 
Yeoman,  R.  C. 

Indiana  Sand  &  Gravel  Association, 

Indianapolis. 
Yoshida,  Tokujiro 

Student,      University      of      Illinois, 

Champaign,  111. 
Young,  R.  B. 

Hydro-Electric  Power  Commission  of 

Ontario,  Toronto,  Canada. 
Young,  R.   U. 

Manufacturer  of  Concrete  Products, 

Paullina,  Iowa. 
Yurnell,  J.  K. 

Building  Engineer,  C.  B.  &  Q.  R.  R., 

Chicago. 
Zenk,  Paul  H. 

Chief  Civil  Engineer,  The  Brier  Hill 

Steel  Co.,  Youngstown,  O. 
Zieg,  F.  B. 

President  and  General  Manager,  The 

J.  B.  Foote  Foundry  Co.,  Frederick- 
town,  O. 

ZiMMERLING,    R.    C. 

Universal  Portland  Cement  Co.,  Chi- 
cago. 


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